WOAI.com: Measure Would Limit HOA Attorneys Fees
By Jim Forsyth,
February 12th 2015
Members of the Texas Legislature are taking aim at a familiar target–Home Owners Associations.
News Radio 1200 WOAI reports State Rep Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) has filed a bill to prevent Home Owners Associations from engaging in a familiar practice…hiring a resident or one of the HOA board’s buddies as their ‘attorney,’ and then tacking huge ‘lawyers fees’ onto the bills of those whom, for whatever reason, have fallen behind on paying their dues.
Gutierrez’ bill is in response to Petty Officer Richard Miller’s lawsuit against the Monte Viejo Homeowners Association. Miller claims that when he returned from deployment to Japan, where he was helping that nation deal with the devastating earthquake and tsunami, he found among his stack of mail, a notice that the HOA had given him 11 days to vacate his property.
Miller was informed that he had fallen behind on his HOA dues, and in addition to the $900 in back dues he owed, he was also being billed for $15,000 in ‘attorney’s fees.’ Read more: