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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHomeowners might be on hook in civil action in Trayvon Martin's death
Anyone who has visited my website knows that my main issue is homeowner's rights. Not Association rights, but homeowner rights. So this new development is interesting because I have to agree with the assessment. Though I wonder if it was because of the liability issues that Zimmerman was originally described as a volunteer neighborhood watch captain?
Here's a clip of the article:
The people who could end up paying the financial price for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin are, ultimately, the homeowners of the Retreat at Twin Lakes development in Sanford, experts say.
If their crime-watch program captain George Zimmerman gets charged with and convicted of killing Trayvon, the community's homeowner association and property-management company will likely be sued by the victim's family regarding the way the watch program was established and operated, said Donna Berger, a lawyer who specializes in homeowner-association law.
"They may wind up getting sued and getting hit with hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and damages," said Berger, who works with the South Florida law firm Katzman, Garfinkel and Berger. "Who will pay is every member of the association, and they will have to make special assessments. ... It's a cautionary tale for other associations."
Located about six miles west of historic downtown Sanford, the 6-year-old Retreat at Twin Lakes contains about 200 two-story town homes. Don O'Brien, president of the homeowner association's board, would not comment when contacted this week, and other members of the board did not return phone calls.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-29/business/os-trayvon-martin-hoa-20120329_1_cyber-citizens-homeowner-crime-watch-members
ejpoeta
(8,933 posts)I heard that at first but then heard he was not part of the neighborhood watch but just a person that went around calling the cops all the time. Wonder what will end up being the truth.
no_hypocrisy
(46,117 posts)to patrol. If they didn't have him removed or didn't get an injunction to prevent him from patrolling their community, then they passively allowed him to act as their agent. And as the principal of Zimmerman's actions, if he's liable, so are they.
BTW, the homeowners association and its insurance carrier have a vested interested in George Zimmerman not being prosecuted or held liable for his acts.
Baitball Blogger
(46,720 posts)It tells you a lot about the area that nobody thought to stop a volunteer who was packing.
Boabab
(120 posts)The homeowners association has been running from connections with Zimmerman like an Olympic sprinter, but it won't help them. It appears that he wasn't part of any formal watch group, but that they were very aware of his activities, and condoned them by allowing the situation to continue.
Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)And everything else they own.
Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION, I knew it was trouble for the HomeOwners. Ths saddest thing is that some owners had complained about GZ being overzealous and were either ignored or blown off.
no_hypocrisy
(46,117 posts)from "patrolling" their community. Or giving management hell if GZ wasn't stopped.
I think the homeowners community wanted it both ways with ambivalence with getting free "security" without risk of liability. It doesn't work that way.
Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)There was nothing passive about it.
malaise
(269,022 posts)he was definitely allowed to 'patrol'.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)It was a unanimous vote among those who attended.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/os-trayvon-martin-neighborhood-watch-20120321,0,177284,full.story
ejpoeta
(8,933 posts)would look this stuff up. I have been hearing he was not officially anything. sounds like CYA time.
Catherina
(35,568 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,330 posts)tigereon
(8 posts)I am shocked and appalled! This hoodies for Trayvon has gotten out of hand. I am starting to think that some people dont even understand what the hoodies symbolize. The right is trying to demonize Trayvon and portray him as a thug, the left is trying to portray him as a saint who never did anything wrong. And a whole different group of people are just
..well, confused, because this is the oddest group of people who I never would have suspected to wear a hoodie (WARNING, if you dont have a sense of humor please dont look)
http://thetop10.squarespace.com/hoodies-for-trayvon/
arthritisR_US
(7,288 posts)family but not the homeowners association. I only say that because one of the owners is Martins girlfriend and it would be like suing himself, in essence. If they broke up then that changes everything, IMO.
no_hypocrisy
(46,117 posts)Zimmerman's family (if not homeowners themselves) have no standing to be sued unless it's something to do with interfering with a criminal investigation.
arthritisR_US
(7,288 posts)I can't see him suing them.
Baitball Blogger
(46,720 posts)If a lawyer takes their case pro bono, he may want to get the highest settlement. And if his law firm sees the precedent setting potential, they will go after the HOA to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again, or doesn't happen too easily.
arthritisR_US
(7,288 posts)matters, jmo.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Baitball Blogger
(46,720 posts)No one will agree with you more. Except I've read our documents. They were brilliantly written. It was just unfortunate that a core group of people decided to play a la carte with the Association's resources. Once you go down that route, that's how you end up with an Association that sucks ass.
cpamomfromtexas
(1,245 posts)onethatcares
(16,168 posts)those houses/homes will not be able to be sold to anyone, no one will want to buy into a special assessment like that.
what would that work out to fee wise? let's say a 10 million dollar judgement divided among 200 homeowners, on top of the current maintenance fees.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)Of course, then they'd have to sue the insurance company because they'll argue the policy doesn't cover this.
onethatcares
(16,168 posts)tell them that the use of untrained vigilantes riding around in SUVs is not covered under section 22x943-8;c----seucs, article 79809-3, paragraph 32987479.000, verse 6.
Those homes will then go into foreclosure and more people will be homeless.
All because of some shitheads racist attitude.
Peace.
EmeraldCityGrl
(4,310 posts)so a lawsuit wouldn't affect him in the least.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)I saw an article where people had complained to the HOA about Zimmerman, and if this is true and they ignored this and let him continue as a wtach volunteer, then they are liable up the kazoo.