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Michigan Condo Lawyers
Michigan Condo & HOA Law News
MCL 559.152: WHEN DO THE CO-OWNERS ELECT DIRECTORS AFTER DEVELOPER CONTROL?
Every Michigan condominium association goes through a transition in which control of the board of directors is transferred from developer control to co-owner control. In many condominium associations, it is not uncommon for a developer to attempt to retain control of...
KEVIN HIRZEL’S ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST : KNOW WHICH CORONAVIRUS-RELATED RISKS ARE COVERED BY YOUR ASSOCIATION’S INSURANCE
As governors around the country ease stay-at-home restrictions, community association boards are forced to make difficult decisions regarding opening common areas, where once ordinary activities such as going to the gym or swimming pool or throwing a party are now...
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
The Coronavirus and the State of Emergency On March 10, 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services identified the first two presumptive cases of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, in the State of Michigan. On March 16, 2020 Governor Whitmer...
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION SERVICE CONTRACTS AND COVID-19
Community associations just wrapped up soliciting, reviewing, negotiating and executing contracts with vendors for a multitude of services to be performed throughout this upcoming year, including landscaping, infrastructure maintenance, repairs and new construction,...
CHECKING THE LIST TWICE: BUYING A CONDOMINIUM UNIT IN MICHIGAN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Buying a new home can be a stressful, frustrating experience – buying a home during the COVID-19 pandemic may be even worse. By the time you have found the perfect home, you may just want to sign all the papers put in front of you; however, whether buying a...
“TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE” CHANGES TO THE SBA ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN ADVANCE GRANT
The full economic impact of COVID-19 and its related “stay at home” orders cannot be measured right now. Anecdotal evidence suggests that widespread delinquencies and defaults have begun. Condominium and homeowner associations are not immune and can rightly expect...
QUIT PUTTERING AROUND – SLOW PROPERTY OWNER LOSES LAND TO JACK NICKLAUS SIGNATURE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE
Introduction On March 17, 2020, the Michigan Court of Appeals approved for publication its December 19, 2019 opinion in New Products Corporation v Harbor Shores BHBT Land Development, LLC, __ Mich App __; __ NW2d __ (2019) (Docket No. 344211), holding that a property...
On the Waterfront: Fighting Lakefront Erosion Through Easement Maintenance
On February 12, 2020, the Ottawa County Circuit Court issued a decision in the consolidated cases Duke, et al v Wittenbach, et al, Case No 19-5989-CH and Wittenbach v Duke, et al, Case No 19-5995-CH. The Duke cases are interesting because at first glance they appear...
LOCKED OUT? THE COURT OF APPEALS DECIDES WHETHER AN UNLOCKED GATE CAN BE INSTALLED WITHIN AN EASEMENT
Introduction On January 28, 2020, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued a published opinion in Smith v Straughn, __ Mich App __; __ NW2d __ (2020) (Docket No. 345391), holding that a landowner can install a gate across an easement so long as the gate is not erected...
Kevin Hirzel elected to the Community Associations Institute’s Board of Trustees
Kevin Hirzel, the Managing Member of Hirzel Law, PLC, was elected to a two (2) year term on the Community Associations Institute (“CAI”) Board of Trustees that commences on January 1, 2020. CAI is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees that is selected from its...