Re: April 13, 2001 - Florida court stops HOA foreclosure; attorney fees comprise $2,350 of $3,000 owed 

Thank you for an interesting and enlightening article in the St. Petersburg Times, regarding Mr. and Mrs. Hammer's winning judgment to keep their home.   Emphasis, on "HOME." 

I would however, like to see a "follow up" article written on Mr. Gary Maisel (the attorney for Veltre and Stephen Maisel), and, Veltre and Stephen Maisel. 
 In particular, how many times have they done something like this?   How many foreclosures have they capitalized on at the expense of homeowners?  Has the Bar Association of that State ever disciplined Gary Maisel, if so, for what? 
If for some reason it came out at trial that Gary Maisel has a "personal connection" in the outcome of a particular case in which his brother (and I am assuming it is his brother or relative) Mr. Stephen Maisel is connected, is this not a violation of the American Bar Association Rules of Professional conduct that attorneys cannot enter into such an agreement without full disclosure and notice to all parties?  Were such disclosures made to the Hammers or to the Homeowners Association?  If a disclosure was made to the  Homeowner Association, did they breach their fiduciary duty in failing to pass that information onto the Hammers?  If so, perhaps the Hammers could have a cause of action against those board members for breach of fiduciary duty.  Are there any personal connections between the board members at the East Homeowners Association or management company (if there is a management company) and Gary Maisel, Veltre and Stephan Maisel? 

This case and article should not end with the judgment, that is merely a beginning to the "real" story.  The real story is the flagrant abuse of power wielded by homeowner associations against homeowners.  Your article merely touches the first slice of that pie, now lets see the rest of it. 

Thank you again for the article, but I think a lot of your readers would like a follow-up investigatory piece on the aforementioned. 

Sincerely, 
<name withheld by request>
<Flamingo Speaks>

March 19, 2001

Re: $ 450 unpaid, home auctioned

    Last year 733 homeowner association cases filled Florida courtrooms at cost of $3 million to taxpayers blind to the fact, homeowner associations are unconstitutional quasi -governments, ULI (Urban Land Institute) designed as a social experiment in housing that failed.
     Our constitution says no property will be taken without due process and just compensation but slick lawyers represent greedy boards who know a cash cow when they see one.
     Harris County, Texas saw 3,000 homeowners lose homes in nonjudicial foreclosures. Thank goodness the ACLU is investigating that violation of civil rights.
      Attorney General Bob Butterworth keeps complaining he can't afford to protect citizens of Florida's civil rights violations because his budget is too small to hire enough lawyers?
       He could use help from Law School seniors and he could sue Broward County School Contractors for Construction fraud recovery because one contractor got away with 352 million that would hire some lawyers.
        My fellow citizens, when you see a wrong and don't try to right it you become part of that wrong.  This woman fighting cancer has a bigger cancer in her board of directors and it's time for victims to demand Florida Inspector General Marcia Cooke, take action against Butterworth for violating public trust because he knows citizens cannot be asked to waive constitutional rights.  It also a violation for a sheriff to serve these evictions because he too is under oath to uphold the constitution; without due process, there was no due process.
        I invite all citizens to join me calling for the committee on govt reform under Rep Henry Waxman to conduct a hearing before these greedy trade associations leave more families homeless.  Under bankruptcy law they must pay a capital gains tax on the mortgage of the stolen home.
         If Florida Real Estate Dept insists on approving these unconstitutional mini governments at least they should sell buyers disability insurance because they are setting up heart attacks, high blood pressure and every other illness with the stress of driving people into the streets. Shame on ULI and shame on our Florida Legislature for allowing the lame and elderly etc. to be homeless refugees while fat cat lawyers and dictator directors create a new group of POW/MIAs. We should storm the capitol like Elian's promoters...and stay there till property rights are restored. Willow Vance/Advocate, for equal protection?
        Willow Vance