Yea Doug! Way to go, guy!

Man Wins Suit Against HOA Over Handicap Parking Spot

Doug took the HOA to court, eventually settling for $150,000. It was the largest award for discrimination in U.S. history for removing a handicap parking space.

"This hopefully will save others. There's always going to need to be somebody, that's willing to pick things up and go against folks that are doing things wrong," said Doug.

http://www.10news.com/news/17443323/detail.html

I am glad to see the association punished. I just hope that the people in the association will wise up and elect someone with some sense who won't lead the association into more financial ruin. Lets face it, this will result in a special assesment. And unfortunatly many of Doug's neighbors will look at him with disdain instead of directing their anger where it belongs.

I believe that if I were in his shoes I would then negotiate with the association. I would donate back the award minus my expenses on the following conditions:

• A written apology admitting guilt and culpability


• Replace every Board member who voted against the accommodation


• Change the rules to reflect that reasonable accommodation is expected.


• Possibly other items along the same lines.

I guess a lot of this is because I do realize that many would not be in favor of the discrimination. And it isn't like you simply move your house when the Board is full of stupid people.

I like the way you think . . .

You talk as if the HOA is some identity in and of itself. It is not, it is the man's neighbors. While this man can certainly afford the special assessment that will be coming, his neighbors may not.

This is why if I were there I would then look for another negotiation. The BOD is replaced with people that will be more neighborly. To be honest, I would be looking for recall for the BOD if I lived there. They could have negotiated a lower amount if they admitted guilt.

In many cases there is a reason a corporation does not admit guilt. But those are cases where others are likely to file a similar suit in the future. And admission of guilt once will potentially hurt the defense in another case. Particularly if the issue is something that was wide spread.

In this case you had a single person who was discriminated against.

Note that I don't feel the disabled owner is under any obligation to not take the money. And I am sure that he can find a good use for the money. But I personally would agree to give it up if conditions were right. And those conditions would be things to prevent future problems (and admission of guilt).

Admission of guilt is a huge benefit to bringing healing to the community.

Isn't that what D & O insurance is for, lawsuits?? I would imagine they have 1M in coverage isn't that standard or the low end? I would think the neighbors are paying anything but possibly higher insurance rates next year.

Kirk the BOD may not have told members about the lawsuit but it probably made the media long before the court ever ruled, and while it is speculation, word in a neighbourhood of something like this usually spreads quickly.