Category Archives: Freedom of Press and Assembly

A partial victory for free speech in community associations (HOAs)?

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Are residents of homeowner, condominium, and cooperative associations entitled to protection of First Amendment rights in Florida?   By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities A recent Florida court opinion involving free speech rights in association governed communities is making its way around social media. The applicable case involves an Appellate Court opinion in Fox v. Hamptons at MetroWest Condo Association, Inc. In some ways, the opinion written by Orange County Judge Margaret Schreiber is a Continue ReadingA partial victory for free speech in community associations (HOAs)?→

Criminal complaints filed in condo catastrophe

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Posted by Deborah Goonan Commentary: Bob Norman is one of Florida’s top notch investigative reporters on HOA, Condo, and Co-op issues in South Florida. Unfortunately, there are plenty of problems to keep him busy. The latest allegations involve the apparent theft or misappropriation of $800,000 from Jade Winds Condominium in Miami Beach. This is a report you don’t want to miss.  Author: Bob Norman, Reporter, bnorman@Local10.com Published On: Aug 06 2015 11:53:41 PM EDT Updated Continue ReadingCriminal complaints filed in condo catastrophe→

HOA Fraud: What’s the Big Secret?

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Reprinted from: The Privatopia Papers by Evan McKenzie http://privatopia.blogspot.com/2015/06/feds-fighting-to-keep-las-vegas-hoa.html Tuesday, June 30, 2015 Feds fighting to keep Las Vegas HOA fraud files secret “Federal prosecutors are fighting to keep secret the mass of evidence in the long-running investigation into the scheme to take over and defraud homeowners associations. Lawyers with the Justice Department’s Fraud Section in Washington filed court papers late last week opposing the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s request to dissolve two protective orders that Continue ReadingHOA Fraud: What’s the Big Secret?→

Homeowners’ Associations and the First Amendment: Are your 5 Freedoms Guaranteed?

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I recently visited the Newseum in Washington, DC, an intriguing blend of exhibits on pivotal moments in the history of freedom of the press, all the way up to current events and interactive displays of new media technology. The founders of the Newseum describe themselves as “Champions of the First Amendment:” While I was exploring the First Amendment Center, I was struck by the “Forty-five words of Freedom” that comprise the first amendment of the US Continue ReadingHomeowners’ Associations and the First Amendment: Are your 5 Freedoms Guaranteed?→