An
Opinion By Jan Bergemann
President, Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.
Published
October 7, 2017
The Jade Winds Association Inc, a condo minium in
Miami-Dade County has filed a very interesting lawsuit in Bankruptcy Court
against First Service Residential, the management company formerly known as
the Continental Group.
As a homeowner or condo owner I hope you are aware that
this company is actively lobbying in Tallahassee against owner-friendly
community association legislation since many years.
In the lawsuit the condo association blames First
Residential Service -- and especially the assigned manager, for all kinds of
wrongdoings leading to the bankruptcy filing of the corporation. The list of
alleged wrongdoings is very long, starting with bills not being paid in a
timely manner leading to late charges to kickbacks for throwing the
elections. The actual lawsuit (please click on link below) provides
very interesting reading and -- in my opinion -- it will be very difficult
for First Residential Services to get out of this lawsuit unharmed if Jade
Winds can prove even only part of the allegations levied in the filed
lawsuit.
No matter what, the allegations in this lawsuit show a
general pattern often alleged by condo owners against management companies.
The long list of allegations contains all the common accusations we hear
often from condo owners.
Well, so far we haven't seen too many lawsuits filed by
associations against their former management company. It will be interesting
to see where this lawsuit is going and what kind of proof Jade Winds can
show to make the allegations stick.
This lawsuit is surely worth keeping an eye on!
JADE WINDS ASSOCIATION, INC.
v. FIRST SERVICE RESIDENTIAL FLORIDA, INC., f/k/a THE CONTINENTAL GROUP,
INC., |