Good deed lands Boca couple in trouble with condo board -- Rentals, Broward County, Paul Ryan -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
He was a "gentle" Army veteran living quietly in his Boca Raton condo when his world came apart. Two years ago, former Postal Service worker Paul Ryan, 60, had a nervous breakdown and couldn't work, care for himself or pay his bills. He has no family to help him. With Foreclosure on his Boca Verde apartment imminent, Rhode Island real estate investors Carol and Sabatino Ranucci stepped in. The snowbirds have owned a unit in the same building as Ryan for more than 20 years. They saw he had no place to go and rushed to his aid. The Ranuccis paid his bills, took him to doctors, picked up his medicine and helped him get disability benefits. In March 2007, they bought the 1,043-square-foot apartment that he had purchased in 2003 and let him stay at no charge. Now, however, the Boca Verde condo board wants Ryan out. It has filed a lawsuit that could become a test of how much discretion directors have when it comes to enforcing rules.
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I'm always getting knocked for pointing to nasty, stupid things condo and HOA boards do. I would be happy to post links to stories about boards showing common sense and human decency and helping their members find solutions to their problems. Unfortunately, such things things either don't seem to happen very often, or if and when they do they don't make it into the local press. Maybe the people who are so convinced that these associations are terrific could start sending me all these good news stories they claim are so common.
5 comments:
Dr. McKenzie,
I was one such Board Member! I was honest, helped everyone with their problems, helped another Board on the property with EVERYTHING, fed other Board Members, their children and extended families, watched other's children in a time of need, or just out of kindness, had our entire building repaired after terrible storm damages. The list goes on and on for years! Want to know where it has gotten us? HOMELESS! Apparently, it was decided disabled people were not welcome, (allowed to live there), because of what it MAY cost the community, if they were forced to meet the ADA! A Board Member from the other Board insighted this fear into everyone at a meeting. This person just happens to be an ins. agent, who caused a few problems prior. And, then of course, the terrorizing, harassment, fraudulent lawsuits, assessments, lies to courts, slander, libel, liens...all of course in tandem with the association attorney!!
For ANYONE who questions what is happening to innocent, vulnerable, (I feel mostly women, elderly, disabled, etc. populations), just living in their homes, doing right by everyone they can, and then being targeted as a meal ticket for board members, "in the know," I suggest they view this suit filed by the
North Carolina Human Relations Commission:
Case No: 06 CV 008627
North Carolina Human Relations vs Avenel HOA Board
The entire case is on the www.ahrc.com site and all over the web. A direct link may be available.
The horrrible, unjust and illegal actions of educated ADULT MEN AND WOMEN described in this case lead decent propery owners to question what country do we reall live in. Unfortunately, far too many have had to live through and endure similar ordeals. The homeowner (plaintiff) in the suit above also happens to be a pastor!
Why are those who reach out always so abused by abusive boards?
I'm very sorry to hear that you had such an awful experience. As I said, I hear so many horror stories and so few that are encouraging. Is it possible that these board positions are attracting too many of the wrong sort of people, and the best ones are being forced out by the unpleasantness?
The csse mentioned above and the link are at the end of this comment.
Hopefully, this state will require jail time for this gang! Every homeowner who has been a victim of one of these "groups," deserves to be heard, protected and rectified. Many legitimate board members had/have upstanding management and professional backgrounds. Come up against of of these "sociopathic gangs of board members," their attorney and a "credentialed professional," and no human being is safe. The "vulnerable" appear to be an attractive target. I know of one case where the association attorney dictated procedure, to the entire membership, and then filed a lawsuit against a long time homeowner who is disabled, for doing exactly what the attorney had told everyone to do. Another board on the property was doing something "questionable," sending bills for repairs to the homeowners property. Property the other board did not own or maintain, ever! Furthermore, there was nothing wrong and no damages. The question to the association attorney concerning what he had directed, has cost this family their home!
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June 14, 2006 Case No: 06 CV 008627 - North Carolina Human Relations Comm vs Avenol HOA Board
North Carolina
Superior Court
County of COUNTY OF WAKE
Branch: IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
THE NORTH CAROLINA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION On behalf of VIRGINIA RADCLIFFE
Represented by: Richard Boulden, Agency Counsel and Millie Hershner, Attorney North Carolina Human Relations Commi
v.
DAVID HULL
RICHARD PROGELHOF
RON ZANZARELLA
STEPHEN MURRAY
CARMELO 'TONY' BUCCAFURRI
TOM DINERO
STEPHEN SULKEY
in his individual capacity and as Avenel Property Manager for Century 21 CAMS
the AVENEL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
INC.
the AVENEL BOAT FACILITY ASSOCIATION
INC.
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST
INC
and SWEYER & ASSOCIATES
INC. f/k/a CENTURY 21 SWEYER & ASSOCIATES
INC. f/k/a CENTURY21 DAVID SWEYER & ASSOCIATES
INC.
Summary
Plaintiff, complaining of acts of Defendants, alleges and says: STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION 1. The Plaintiff North Carolina Human Relations Commission ("NCHRC"), located in Raleigh, Wake County, asserts a claim of interference with civil rights under N.C.G.S. §99D-1 on behalf of Complainant, Virginia Radcliffe. The Defendants, motivated by Ms. Radcliffe's gender and religious beliefs, conspired to interfere with her rights as protected under the United States Constitution and under the North Carolina Constitution. The Defendants conspired to interfere with Ms. Radcliffe's right to be free from harassment, the right to privacy, the right to peaceful enjoyment of her home, the right to seek and maintain employment without interference, and the right to justice from the courts without interference or obstruction of justice. Defendants violated Ms. Radcliffe's rights because she was an outspoken single Christian woman, actively engaged in mission-oriented ministry, living in a wealthy neighborhood dominated and controlled by the all-male Homeowners Association Board of Directors ("HOA Board") and Boat Facility Association Board of Directors ("BFA Board").
Causes of Action: INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS IN VIOLATON OF N.C.G.S. § 99D-1 - Violence against a woman homeowner
Lawsuit Text
http://www.ahrc.com/new/index.php/src/courts/sub/submit/action/display/id/164
OR:
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-ncedce/case_no-7:2007cv00048/case_id-87868/
Those who know of some of the victims cases from this area of the USA should read what has been happening to Rick Happ.
www.creekpointehoa.org
Rick thought their problems were over, if any recall:
http://www.ahrc.com/new/index.php/src/courts/sub/submit/action/display/id/8
OR:
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:wBZNr0RimvcJ:www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2001/000556-1.htm+happ+v+creek+pointe&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
As some researchers have many, many victim's statements, from those who have been victimized by an abusive board, I feel there is one that speaks for so many.
This is from an educated woman, with a supportive spouse, who lives in a northeastern commonwealth. Can you imagine what those with no support system, and the elderly and disabled, are experiencing? These are her words. WHO WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND? Yes, there are good boards, but MANY of these groups appear to have become terrifying. Who would want to live around such ignorant, selfish and greedy people? The bright spot for this homeowner is that she has not BEEN MADE HOMELESS due to this new domestic violence and terrorist activities practiced by far too many!
The statement:
"What needs to be understood is that the house itself becomes poisoned. It is no longer a "home" where you are safe and secure. Your safety and security is undermined. You are fearful of answering the phone - it could be the attorneys calling, or you are fearful of picking up your mail - their may be a summons, complaint, registered mail in it, bearing additional bad news/harassment/threats/litigation. You watch through your windows every spare minute and are suspicious of any car that passes - it could be the neighborhood "watch" coming around to write up additional "violations". You become suspicious of all you encounter, including the legal industry, the township government, the county government. You become paranoid - you are actually living in an atmosphere of "terrorism". When people understand those concepts (and who, in today's world cannot understand the emotional and psychological impacts of 9/11) then they will have a grasp of what is happening in CID's."
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