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NEWS

Unintentional Housing Discrimination

 

On June 25, 2015, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project, Inc. 

 

Read more about
what this could mean for your community association.

EVENTS
Join us July 11th
from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with CAI San Diego and Feeding America San Diego for a fun, free community event helping local families in need.

Register online now for complete details.
Upcoming Events

To view upcoming participation at industry-wide events and speaking engagements, please click here.

Click here for dates and information regarding our 2015 Legal Symposium. 

Registration opens on September 1st.
Get Social

From event photos, speaking engagements and industry event participation to charitable good works by our attorneys and staff... 

 

We love to share what's new with EG&H, so follow us on your favorite social site.



Or, if you like the services we provide to our clients and colleagues, share a review on Yelp.
July 2015 
Shareholder Insight

Independence Day means different things to different people.  To Bruce Springsteen, Independence Day was a song about teenage angst and leaving home. To Will Smith, Independence Day was a movie that made him a lot of money. To most Americans, Independence Day is a day to raise the flag, go to the beach, watch a parade, enjoy fireworks at night, or just relax.    

 

Whatever your particular beliefs, and however you celebrated the 4th of July, there is just no denying that we are blessed by the independence that our flag represents. We have the freedom to do just about anything we want to (as law abiding citizens of course). 

 

So I hope your 4th of July holiday weekend was full of independence:

 

  • Independence from phone calls.
  • Independence from fax machines. 
  • Independence from emails.
  • Independence from questions over late fees.
  • Independence from board packets.

 

And, as your workweek resumes after the long holiday weekend, may your Independence Day celebration stay with you long enough so that even as those things return.... and the fax machine rolls, and your phone rings, and your email beeps, and someone needs an answer to a question immediately, you remember that these are all good problems to have.    Happy Independence!


Shareholder
Co-Chair, Construction Defect Practice Group 

Practice Areas: Community Association Counsel, Construction Defect and Civil Litigation
Providing an Effective Notice of Hearing
 

One of the many important functions a board of directors has is to enforce its association's governing documents.  While there are several means to enforce governing documents, one of the most common methods is holding noticed hearings to consider whether to impose discipline on an owner for alleged violations.  

 

The properly noticed hearing can be a simple, cost-efficient and quick remedy to enforce an association's governing documents. 

 

Pursuant to Civil Code section 5855, a notice of hearing must, at a minimum, include the following items:

  • The date, time and location of the hearing;
    • For the date, specify a date at least 10 days after the date of mailing, or any longer period that may be required in the governing documents;
  • A statement the owner has a right to attend the hearing and may address the board at the hearing; and,
  • A statement as to the "nature of the alleged violation for which a member may be disciplined or the nature of the damage to the common area and facilities for which a monetary charge may be imposed";
    • We suggest also including the name of the document (e.g., Declaration, Rules,), the section(s) violated and the facts alleged about the violation (dates, details, etc.).

Continue reading for additional Notice of hearing tips and inclusions.

AB 1522: Paid Sick Days for Employees

Effective last week, this new law enacts the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 to provide that an employee who, on or after July 1, 2015, works in California for 30 or more days within a year from the commencement of employment is entitled to paid sick days to be accrued at a rate of no less than one hour for every 30 hours worked. 

 

An employee is entitled to use accrued sick days beginning on the 90th day of employment. The employer may limit an employee's use of paid sick days to 24 hours or 3 days in each year of employment. An employer may not discriminate or retaliate against an employee who requests paid sick days. Employers must satisfy specified posting, notice and record keeping requirements. 

Membership Rights
A checklist for community associations on what rights they must give their members:

  • Right to Specified Documents
  • Right to Inspect Documents and Membership List
  • Right to Opt Out of Sharing Member's Name, Address, etc., with Other Members
  • Right to Disciplinary Hearing
  • Right to Notice before and after Disciplinary Hearing
  • and the list continues...

For details on the above list of rights and more, read the complete article.

About Us
For nearly 29 years, the attorneys of Epsten Grinnell & Howell have practiced community association law and provided common interest developments with counsel, legal strategies, rapid assessment recovery, construction defect and other civil litigation assistance, interpretation of fair housing issues, and alternative dispute resolution throughout Southern California. 

We serve associations throughout San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Los Angeles counties. Our attorneys have recovered more than $250 million for clients in complex construction defect litigation cases, including community associations, condominium towers and commercial buildings.
Epsten Grinnell & Howell is a Professional Corporation, incorporated in the State of California. Our attorneys are licensed to practice law in California and the firm and its attorneys have attempted to comply with all legal and ethical requirements in this jurisdiction. We have created this internet site (epsten.com) for general information purposes only, and only address issues involving California law, and Federal law where it applies to matters in California. No information accessible on or through this internet site should be construed as legal advice, legal opinion, an endorsement with respect to any matter, or a solicitation for legal business. You should not rely on such information as legal advice for your particular matter without consulting your legal counsel. View entire disclaimer.