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PRO-SE UNIT-OWNER WINS FEES AND COST IN ARBITRATION CASE |
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An
Opinion By Jan Bergemann Published December 16, 2010
Remember the comedy about the recall arbitration Water Bridge 2 Association, Inc. [Case No. 2009-03-4877]? The infamous story of the board president, Mr. Echevarria, threw the envelope from the third floor balcony after being served by the process server.
Click here to refresh your memory -- it's worth clicking if you like to laugh: DBPR RECALL ARBITRATION À LA COMEDY CENTRAL
This ridiculous chapter of Florida recall arbitration turned into total victory for the unit-owner, when arbitrator David R. Slaton issued the final ruling in regard to the Fees and Costs of this case.
In the FINAL ORDER ON ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COST (Fee Case 2010-03-0207), dated December 9, 2010, arbitrator David R. Slaton awarded pro-se litigant Stephen Smith $1,103.19 for costs and stated in his final ruling that petitioner is entitled to be reimbursed for 1/48th of all attorney's fees and cost incurred by the association in connection with this action and the underlying case.
Nothing wrong with the final verdict and the cost decision -- but in my opinion this president should pay all the costs and fees from his own pocket. Maybe then he would learn that ignoring laws can get expensive. Board members like this should not be allowed again to serve on the association board. The DBPR should suspend them indefinitely from serving on the board.
This kind of behavior is a slap in the face for all owners in this condominium. DBPR RECALL ARBITRATION À LA COMEDY CENTRAL |