|
|
06-28-2022, 02:00 PM
|
|
|
Starter
Join Date: May 2018
Casino cash: $9600400
|
First Time Ever Hooker Fined Over A Matter Of A Few Extra Inches
|
|
Posts: 203
  |
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:01 PM
|
#2 |
|
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $-591038
 VARSITY
|
Cool dog. Pro tip, don’t make posters click on a link to see your post.
I don’t think this thread will go as you thought.
__________________
Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken. |
|
Posts: 81,266
  |
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:08 PM
|
#3 | |
|
Starter
Join Date: May 2018
Casino cash: $9600400
|
Quote:
|
|
|
Posts: 203
|
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:17 PM
|
#5 |
|
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2019
Casino cash: $5920400
|
That's what happens when you let a hooker install a fence.
|
|
Posts: 1
|
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:42 PM
|
#6 |
|
Life is changing..
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NW Missouri
Casino cash: $-2390000
|
I copied and pasted the story from the link and bolded the important parts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WMAR - Baltimore, Maryland Watch Now Menu WMAR - Baltimore, Maryland Watch Now x Search site Search Go News Weather & Traffic In Focus Voice for Veterans Rebound Maryland Investigations Shop Local Midday Maryland Sports Your Health Matters Entertainment WMAR Podcast Blogs Lifestyle WMAR -2 Videos Marketplace About WMAR Sign In Newsletters Apps Careers Search Quick links... Homeowner fined $40,000 for a few inches of fence takes HOA to court Maryland's 2nd highest court issued ruling Maryland's 2nd highest court issued ruling By: Mallory SofastaiiPosted at 6:00 AM, Jun 28, 2022 and last updated 6:33 AM, Jun 28, 2022 WALDORF, Md. — Disputes between homeowners and their condo or homeowners association (HOA) aren’t uncommon, but a Maryland woman said her Board took it too far. The disagreement involved a fence and its boundaries. And while the fence cost around $8,000 to construct, the litigation that followed amounted to nearly $40,000. “This dispute started in like 2017,” said Betty Hooker, who lives in the Autumn Hills community in Waldorf, Md. Recent Stories from wmar2news.com Hooker obtained permission from the Autumn Hills Homeowners Association to construct a fence in her backyard, but in March 2018, the Association told her the fence was encroaching on the community’s common area and forest conservation easement, a wooded area behind Hooker’s home. “Exactly 8 inches by his measurement,” Hooker recalled the HOA President telling her. A few months later, the HOA sent a letter letting her know the Association would take legal action if the fence isn’t moved. Hooker said she obtained an estimate and went back and forth with the HOA on who would pay for it. Then, the HOA filed a complaint in Charles County Circuit Court in March 2019 asserting the fence was still encroaching and they're seeking a fine of $25 per day dating back to November 2018, which at the time was around $3,500, plus costs and attorneys' fees. At the hearing in the fall of 2019, Hooker represented herself. “I felt like it was a frivolous case, and the judge would hear me,” said Hooker. But she lost. Immediately after, the Hookers moved their fence within the boundaries established by a survey company they hired, but the HOA contended the fence still wasn’t in compliance. And in April 2021, they were back in court where Judge Donine Carrington-Martin ordered the Hookers to pay $22,200 in fines and nearly $17,600 in attorneys' fees and court costs. “Devastating. Mentally, emotionally, and financially,” said Hooker. “When I heard the ruling from the judge, it was just unbelievable. I immediately got up and left the courtroom.” Following the judgment, the Hookers sought legal help to file an appeal. “I believe it was around the time the warrant had been issued for the Sheriff to come and try to seize their house,” said Jessica Blumberg of Costello PC, who represented the Hookers in their appeal. On January 7, 2022 the Maryland Court of Special Appeals (COSA) heard the case. “Instead of helping the appellants, the HOA doggedly pursued litigation against them racking up attorneys' fees and by the end of this case, were pursuing fines and fees for over a year for encroachments of under one inch in one corner of the property,” Blumberg argued in court. “You’re saying the whole dispute is over an inch?” asked Judge Melanie Shaw Geter of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. “Yes, at the end of this case, the dispute was over an inch, less than an inch your honor,” Blumberg responded. “It only matters that they are encroaching, and if they are encroaching, they are encroaching,” Scott Silverman, the attorney representing the HOA, said in response to questions about the one-inch encroachment. In April 2022, COSA ruled that the HOA did not act in accordance with its governing document. “We observe that the complaint states that several notices were sent to appellants, but none met the requirements outlined in the Declaration. We note further that the complaint states that fines would be incurred beginning November 1, 2018, but the HOA President testified the beginning date was October 4, 2018. We conclude that the HOA violated the contractual tenants of the Covenant Declaration and the fines were improperly assessed. As a result, the court abused its discretion in awarding fines,” the judges wrote in their opinion. “The declarations for the HOA say very clearly different notices that homeowners should get and the due process they deserve before any further steps happen against them and that was not followed here,” said Blumberg. “So, the case has been completely reversed and the Hookers, all the fines have been taken away, all the attorneys' fees they will owe to the HOA are taken away and actually they were awarded costs.” WMAR-2 News Mallory Sofastaii tried speaking with HOA President William Henderson about the decision. The attorney for the Association said no one was available for comment at the time. A few days later, Sofastaii knocked on Henderson’s door to see if he was available. No one answered, but the HOA attorney sent the statement below. "The HOA Board in good faith pursued the matter to fulfill their duty to enforce the community covenants. The HOA was naturally disappointed with the outcome of the appeals case. However, the HOA respects the decision of the COSA and is complying with its Mandate." “I feel somewhat whole, but not totally whole because I’ve been under a lot of stress,” Hooker said. Resolving HOA disputes When asked if there’s anything homeowners can do to stop HOA disputes from spiraling, Blumberg responded, “If they just go back to their governing documents, there’s a lot of due process already in those." These bylaws detail how the association is run including rules, voting rights, and procedures. “A six-hour training session for Boards, 'know your rights' leaflet to homeowners, something that simple could help a lot,” said Blumberg. Blumberg added that lawyers can also help by settling the issue before it goes to court. Earlier this year, Sofastaii reported on legislative attempts to require licensing and training for community managers, but the bill did not pass the Maryland General Assembly. RELATED: "I am not going away” A lawmaker’s continued push for HOA regulations and consumer protections Click here to view the Maryland Homeowners Association Act. Consumers can also file a complaint with their HOA with the Maryland Office of the Attorney General by contacting the Consumer Protection Division at 410-528-8662 or by email at consumer@oag.state.md.us. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information. CURATION BY Recommended by Find A Great Personal Loan Rate By Comparing With NerdWallet Find A Great Personal Loan Rate By Comparing With NerdWallet NerdWallet Which Personal Loans Start as Low as 5.9%? Find Out. Which Personal Loans Start as Low as 5.9%? Find Out. NerdWallet You May Qualify for Rates From 5.9%. Compare Personal Loans. You May Qualify for Rates From 5.9%. Compare Personal Loans. NerdWallet These Are The 6 Summer Dresses Amazon Shoppers Are Obsessed With Right Now These Are The 6 Summer Dresses Amazon Shoppers Are Obsessed With Right Now Need a Personal Loan? Compare Lenders With the Nerds. Need a Personal Loan? Compare Lenders With the Nerds. NerdWallet Illinois Will Cover The Cost To Install Solar if You Live in Chicago Illinois Will Cover The Cost To Install Solar if You Live in Chicago Solar Advice Today "Nature's Morphine", Could Help Against Joint Pain & Arthritis "Nature's Morphine", Could Help Against Joint Pain & Arthritis Healing Equilibrium Final Photos of the Romanov Family Have Resurfaced Final Photos of the Romanov Family Have Resurfaced Definition Two Gummies Before Bed Relieves Years of Joint Pain & Arthritis Two Gummies Before Bed Relieves Years of Joint Pain & Arthritis prowellnesstips.com 'This virus is changing': Fauci testifies remotely while recovering from COVID-19 'This virus is changing': Fauci testifies remotely while recovering from COVID-19 2022 Stream 24-7 Website Ad.jpg An in depth look at getting back to work and making ends meet. 4:51 PM, May 16, 2019 Traffic News Business Sports Entertainment Life Marketplace Don't Waste Your Money Support Sitemap Privacy Policy Privacy Center Journalism Ethics Guidelines Terms of Use EEO Careers FCC Public Files FCC Application Public File Contact Accessibility Statement Closed Captioning Contact wmar2news/ wmar2news WMAR2News wmar2news Scripps Media, IncScripps Local Media © 2022 Scripps Media, Inc CLOSE |
|
Posts: 43,044
|
 2
 0
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:46 PM
|
#7 |
|
MVP
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Chandler AZ
Casino cash: $-369996
|
sweet thread
 |
|
Posts: 14,599
|
1
0
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:47 PM
|
#8 | |
|
GREAT SCOTT!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Lot G
Casino cash: $-854394
|
Quote:
|
|
|
Posts: 574
|
2
0
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:49 PM
|
#9 | |
|
Bono & Grbac wasn't enough
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sioux City, IA
Casino cash: $9433829
|
Quote:
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month |
|
|
Posts: 40,682
|
1
0
|
|
06-28-2022, 02:51 PM
|
#10 |
|
Seize life. Be an ermine.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: My house
Casino cash: $-482449
VARSITY
|
Setting aside the cool clicking stuff, the woman built a fence 8 inches into the common space and then she expected the HOA to pay to move it? The HOA should have just knocked it down.
This woman is extraordinarily lucky the the appeals court judge had OCD.
__________________
Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history. |
|
Posts: 145,278
|
|
|
06-28-2022, 04:27 PM
|
#12 | |
|
Bolton gonna knock you out
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: They Freed Kartel!!
Casino cash: $-817606
|
Quote:
__________________
 2025 Adopt a Chief - Travis “Swifty Slayer” Kelce The Travis Kelce farewell tour SB MVP incoming! |
|
|
Posts: 21,685
|
|
|
06-28-2022, 06:19 PM
|
#13 | |
|
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Mar 2006
Casino cash: $3169900
VARSITY
|
Quote:
"Bitch, paint my house." |
|
|
Posts: 22,630
|
|
|
06-28-2022, 06:42 PM
|
#14 | ||
|
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $-591038
VARSITY
|
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken. |
||
|
Posts: 81,266
|
|
|
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
First Time Ever Hooker Fined Over A Matter Of A Few Extra Inches
Linear Mode
