Litigate. litigate,litigate

DO WE NEED ANOTHER LAWSUIT?

Recent events in a condominium complex right here in West Palm Beach are raising eyebrows and concerns among residents.
It is reported that the HOA (home owners association) for The Whitehall complex on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard challenged the president of the association on unauthorized expenditures.

The expenditures were in reference to approximately fourteen thousand dollars withdrawn at casinos and hotels from Florida to New Jersey. In frustration the homeowners finally filed a lawsuit to put an end to the spending spree. The president's defense was to maintain that it wasn't the associations money, it was his money.
The complaints piled up and an investigation was launched by the state which resulted in the association being fined $5000.00.

The Association bore the legal costs of defending Mr Rossi (the president) and the HOA to the tune of $130,000.00.
In an attempt to justify the costs Mr Rossi stated “ I don't let anybody push me around “ he was recently stripped of his authority as a president of the HOA by the State.

In a later development angry residents broke into the associations office , removed records and documentation , ostensibly to protect them from destruction or removal. This has led to more lawsuits
being filed incurring further legal costs for which the association is again picking up the tab.

There has to be a lesson in all this for Century Village. Residents here have requested access to the records which are being turned down with little or no good reason. Our President recently stated
that he will not be “controlled by a mob”. In reply to an offer by residents to work on the upcoming budget he posted on his website that ” UCO does not respond to threats”.The complaints against UCO are piling up. At the moment there are two separate lawsuits pending against UCO and David Israel totaling more than 5 million dollars. Do we as concerned residents need to appeal to the State or launch another lawsuit to enforce our rights?

In light of these events it may not be the best way to resolve the controversy swirling around allegations of mismanagement at UCO. If the administration continues with obstructionist tactics Century Village residents may have no other option than to call in the investigators from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. CV Residents are reluctant to proceed with this course of action, they are restrained by their wish to protect themselves and other residents from bearing the costs,but they are becoming increasingly frustrated and patience is wearing thin. However this administration is not transparent or willing to allow scrutiny of their actions. It's a simple matter to file a complaint, request documentation or call for an audit from the state.

Before proceeding with action through the State it would be a lot better for everyone if the UCO administration would co-operate with the reasonable requests recently made by more than 50 unit owners in Century Village to allow Ed Grossman CPA. George Lowenstein CPA. (past president and treasurer of UCO.)and Dorothy Tetro former treasurer of UCO to aid in the preparation of a proper 2015 budget.

Come to the Messenger Club town hall meeting Jan. 27. 3.30 pm. room C