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By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. June 30, 2014 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Landlords are often faced with a variety of tenant-related issues, some of which might land them in a courtroom.  A common issue that leads to litigation for many landlords concerns constructive eviction based upon a tenant’s claim that the apartment is uninhabitable.  Such claims can arise when a tenant seeks to break his or her lease months prior to its expiration, and without penalty, because the tenant considers the dwelling to be uninhabitable.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. June 11, 2014 Posted in Community Association Law Share

The New Jersey Appellate Division, in Port Liberte II Condo Ass'n v. New Liberty Residential Urban Renewal Co., et al., recently released a decision that has been deemed to be a major win for both condo owners and associations alike. The Court found that the defendants, developers and contractors who were not homeowners, could not use the condo association bylaws that were intended to protect the unit owners' interests, to suppress those same interests. The Court also noted that the board's decision to file a lawsuit without taking a vote prior to the start of litigation (as required by the bylaws) can be affirmed retroactively by the members and could not be challenged by the defendants.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. June 4, 2014 Posted in Community Association Law Share

There will come a time when individuals who live in condo communities will need to make certain decisions by way of a vote. But what options do owners have if they are unable to participate during the actual voting process? If necessary and permitted under the Association's governing documents, unit owners and shareholders are allowed to vote on certain matters regarding corporate governance and in board elections by absentee ballot or "proxy". Basically, a proxy is when one person stands in for another individual to cast votes on his or her behalf. More specifically, a proxy is a written statement of an owner or a shareholder that authorizes the holder of the proxy to vote his or her shares and/or common interests at a meeting. Proxies are a very important part of the voting process; however, condo boards do need to be mindful of the legal implications that might arise if proxies are mishandled.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. May 29, 2014 Posted in Community Association Law Share

There are certainly some advantages to living in a condominium as opposed to a private, single-family home. In most cases, individuals who live in condos do not have to concern themselves with yard maintenance or other types of outside maintenance related to the condo unit. This is because most condo owners pay homeowner's association fees that cover such maintenance throughout the community. A specific portion of the fees might be set aside for ongoing landscaping, while a separate portion may be allocated to certain one-time expenses, such as exterior painting. Still, some condo owners often have questions or concerns about what will happen if a repair is needed or an emergency situation arises for which the association's reserve funds are insufficient to cover.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. April 16, 2014 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Many landlords in New Jersey and elsewhere throughout the Northeast have placed heavy restrictions on (or totally banned) having animals in their buildings. The reasoning behind the restrictions typically ranges from concerns over property damage to pet bites. That said, many standard rental agreements and leases contain no-pet provisions that will permit landlords to evict tenants who are caught in violation.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. April 9, 2014 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Prior to the changes made to the Bankruptcy Code, individuals who were facing the possibility of eviction would rush to file for bankruptcy protection as a way of "buying time" to either make a deal with the landlord or move somewhere else. However, when the laws were revised, landlords were given more of an incentive to vigilantly track those tenants who are in arrears on their rent.

April 2, 2014 Posted in Community Association Law Share

When couples decide to get married, they often promise to love and take care of each other, for better or for worst, for the rest of their lives. But from a legal standpoint, once a couple says, "I do" in the state of New Jersey, what is really expected of those individuals, particularly with respect to the accumulation of household debt that is incurred for "necessaries?" 

By Robert C. Griffin, Esq. March 26, 2014 Posted in Community Association Law Share

All of us have experienced the frustration of attending a seemingly endless meeting.  Generally, the meetings producing this frustration are not those which simply last the longest.  While the business of the Association is being carried forward, frustration is minimized, even though the number of issues is great, or discussions become lengthy.  Frustration is produced by wasting time.  It arises from the inability to perceive steady movement toward a goal.

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. March 26, 2014 Posted in Community Association Law Share

Amenities of some sort are typically an integral part of a community. Pools, clubhouses and fitness centers are popular amenities that can bring residents together in a social atmosphere. However, those same enjoyable amenities can also be the cause of resident accidents. That said, condo and homeowner's associations throughout New Jersey often look for ways to protect themselves from liability when such accidents occur. In New Jersey, associations have ways to shield themselves from liability, namely through the use of tort immunity and by passing resolutions.