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Hill Wallack Partners Presenting at the 41st Annual Community Association Law Seminar

16 Jan 2020

Presented by CAI's College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL).
January 15-18, 2020 | Aria Resort, Las Vegas, NV.

Ronald L. Perl, Esq., CCAL and Jonathan H. Katz, Esq. will be presenters for the CAI L-100 Program, Essentials of Community Association Law, designed for attorneys practicing in this field of law.

Legal Basis of Community Associations

Thursday, Jan. 16, 3-4 PM

A successful community association legal practice starts with the essentials and a strong ethical approach. Join experienced community association lawyers for an overview and case-law examples for a three-part program.

Part I of the program addresses the legal basis of community associations; including governing documents and the source of legal obligation for a community association; including federal and state statutes.

The Players- Board, Manager, Attorney and other Professional Advisors

Friday, Jan. 17, 9:15 AM to 10:30 AM

Part II of the program addresses the role an authority of the various stakeholders in the community association housing model; including the governing board, community association manager, attorney, and other professional advisors. This section will discuss the management contract and employment agreements.

Additionally, the program begins to covers rights and responsibilities of the various stakeholders; including homeowners, governing board, developer, etc... and their role and authority related to assessments, maintenance, policies, and restrictions.

Also, among the panelists for Associates Track: Part II of III are Ellen Hirsch de Haan, Esq.*, Wetherington Hamilton P.A., Tampa, FL and Ursula K. Burgess, Esq.*, Rees Broome, P.C., Tysons Corner, VA.

About the Panelists:

Ronald L. Perl is a partner in the Princeton, N.J. office of Hill Wallack LLP and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He is partner-in-charge of the firm’s Community Associations practice group.

Mr. Perl concentrates his practice in the areas of community association law, construction law, transactional real estate, eminent domain and tax appeals. He is also a mediator for construction, real estate and community association disputes. He represents condominium associations, homeowners associations and cooperatives.

Mr. Perl is nationally recognized for his work in the field of community association law. During his term as National President of the Community Associations Institute, he pursued a theme of “building community” and advocated a fresh look at the role of community associations. He has been an advocate for the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in community associations for the past 25 years.

Jonathan H. Katz is a partner in the Princeton, N.J. office of Hill Wallack LLP and a member of the firm’s Community Associations practice group. Mr. Katz concentrates his practice in the areas of community association law and general litigation, representing condominium and homeowners associations throughout New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

Mr. Katz is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, and he currently serves as the President-Elect.

Hill Wallack LLP Community Associations Partner George C. Greatrex authors article published in Community Trends

20 Dec 2019

Click here to read the Legislative Update, written by Legislative Action Committee Chair George C. Greatrex, Jr.

Are You Overlooking a Cost-Saving Exemption to DCA Inspections?

11 Dec 2019

By: George C. Greatrex, Jr.

The Failure of a Condominium Association, Cooperative, or Mutual Housing Corporation to Apply for an Exemption to the DCA’s Housing Inspection Obligation Can Be Costly

The Bureau of Housing Inspection, a division of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), is charged with administering the New Jersey Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law. This law requires the Bureau to conduct periodic inspections of these properties in order to ensure that multiple family buildings of four (4) or more dwelling units are properly maintained and do not pose a threat to the health and safety of its residents. Condominium associations, cooperatives, and mutual housing corporations are considered multiple family dwellings for purposes of this law and these inspections.

However, because the intent and application of this law and these inspections is to protect renters of units within these properties, the law provides for an exemption if those units are owner-occupied. Specifically, the law provides that the inspection obligation does not apply to those buildings that: (a) contain not more than four (4) dwelling units; (b) have at least two (2) exterior walls unattached to any adjoining building section and where attached are attached exclusively by fire-resistant rated walls; and (3) contain dwelling units that are owner occupied (if both owner-occupied and non-owner occupied units are contained therein, only the owner-occupied units are exempt). Since the majority of units within most condominium associations and cooperatives are owner-occupied, this drastically reduces the number of units that must be inspected under this law. Typically, the association’s community manager is responsible for setting up the inspections of the rental units (in coordination with the State inspectors), and for ensuring that cited violations are abated. Failure to address and abate cited violations in a timely manner may subject an association to costly fines.

To limit the number of units to be inspected, and thus reduce what would otherwise be a monumental administrative task of organizing inspections of all the dwelling units within an association, it is incumbent on associations to apply for this exemption. This is done by submitting a detailed application to the Bureau of Housing Inspection. These forms and instructions can be obtained by visiting the Bureau’s website by clicking here.

The cycle of these DCA inspections until recently has been every five (5) years. However, as we previously reported, a bill was passed and signed into law on August 5, 2019, which revises the inspection schedule by establishing a three (3) tiered schedule of two (2), five (5), and seven (7) year inspection intervals. Those associations for which no violations are cited or which timely abate all cited violations by the first reinspection will not be scheduled to undergo another inspection for seven (7) years; those which abate all violations by the second or third reinspection will not be scheduled for the next inspection for five (5) years; and those which do not abate all the cited violations by the third reinspection will be scheduled for the next inspection in two (2) years.

An application for exemption of owner-occupied units and timely abatement of cited violations can save your association valuable time, effort, and money. Your association’s legal counsel can help you in this process.

©2019 Hill Wallack LLP. All rights reserved. Please contact Hill Wallack for permission to reprint. Notice: The purpose of this Client Alert is to identify select developments that may be of interest to readers. The information contained herein is abridged and summarized from various sources, accuracy and completeness of which cannot be assured. This Client Alert should not be construed as legal advice or opinion, and is not a substitute for the advice of counsel.

Hill Wallack LLP Announces Chief Operating Officer

10 Dec 2019

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Jeanine M. Foley to Chief Operating Officer of Hill Wallack LLP. Jeanine has been with Hill Wallack for 7 years, during which time she has held positions in the accounting department, most recently as Director of Finance, proving herself to be a committed firm advocate. During her tenure here, Jeanine has implemented protocols which have improved efficiency to Hill Wallack and has frequently been recognized for outstanding achievement. Her leadership, energy and enthusiasm continues to enhance the firm’s administrative operations.

Hill Wallack LLP Managing Partner Michael Kahme Elected as Vice President of the Mercer County Bar Association

10 Dec 2019

On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, Hill Wallack LLP Managing Partner Michael Kahme was elected as Vice President of the Mercer County Bar Association. The firm congratulates Mr. Kahme along with the other newly elected officers of the Mercer County Bar Association and Trustees. They will be sworn into office in January 2020.

In addition to serving as the firm’s Managing Partner, Mr. Kahme concentrates his legal practice in all matters of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy, including workouts, commercial foreclosures, asset purchases, receivership actions, pendente lite sales, lender liability lawsuits, representation of secured creditors in bankruptcy cases, commercial litigation and fraud litigation. He also has represented institutional purchasers of assets and businesses out of bankruptcy estates.

Hill Wallack LLP Family Law Attorney Albertina Webb to Speak at NJICLE Fall CLE Fest

25 Nov 2019

A 20/20 Look at 50/50 Custody - 2019

Albertina (Abby) Webb will be among a distinguished panel of speakers for A 20/20 Look at 50/50 Custody CLE program. The program will be held on Monday, November 25, 2019 at the Marriott Delta Hotel, Iselin, NJ beginning at 8:45 a.m.

This compelling new program will take a 20/20 look at 50/50 arrangements and will examine their pros and cons. Our panel of leading New Jersey family lawyers will share solid strategies and practical advice about how best to negotiate parenting arrangements and plans - all with an eye toward anticipating likely problems and being proactive about resolving them.

Albertina “Abby” Webb is a partner in the Red Bank, New Jersey office of Hill Wallack LLP, where she is a member of the firm’s Family Law practice group. Ms. Webb concentrates her practice on family law issues, including divorce, custody, support, post-judgment and domestic violence cases from inception through resolution, either by mediation, arbitration or trial. She also handles enforcement or modification of marital agreements, alimony and child support awards, post judgment enforcement and modification of agreements and pre-nuptial agreements, as well as engaging in litigation practice to set them aside or for enforcement.

Further information on the program may be found by clicking here.

Hill Wallack LLP Partner Michael S. Karpoff to Speak at the 2019 Community Association Law Summit

14 Nov 2019

Hill Wallack LLP Partner Michael S. Karpoff will be speaking at the NJ Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s 2019 Community Association Law Summit on Thursday, November 14, at the New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick.

Mr. Karpoff will speak on “Accommodating Religious Expression in Community Associations: Responsibilities of Boards.”

Other topics to be presented include transition and construction litigation, insurance, employment issues, confidentiality versus transparency, preventing fraud, managing technology, and legislative and case law update, with a luncheon presentation regarding the future of housing and common interest communities. Further information and reservations for the program may be obtained here.

About the Speaker:

Michael S. Karpoff is a partner in the Princeton, N.J. office of Hill Wallack LLP and is a member of the firm’s Community Association, Construction Industry and Professional Licensing and Regulation practice groups. Mr. Karpoff is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a civil trial attorney and oversees the Community Association Group’s litigation. He has served as lead counsel for numerous plaintiffs in construction defect cases during the past 25 years.In addition to community association law and litigation, Mr. Karpoff concentrates his practice in administrative law including professional and occupational licensing and regulation, construction code and zoning matters.

Hill Wallack LLP Family Law Partner to Speak at NJICLE Seminar

11 Nov 2019

Hill Wallack LLP Partner Albertina Webb will be speaking at the NJ Institute of Coninuing Legal Education's "Hot Tips in Family Law" Seminar on Monday, November 11, at the New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick.

Ms. Webb will speak on "Bad Practices."

This educational program has a distinguished panel of speakers and they will share their collective knowledge/experience, strategies, and proven "best practices" to avoid or overcome complicated ethical dilemmas in specific family law situations, and provide practical, thoughtful tactics.

Further information for the program may be found here.

Albertina “Abby” Webb is a partner in the Red Bank, New Jersey office of Hill Wallack LLP, where she is a member of the firm’s Family Law practice group. Ms. Webb concentrates her practice on family law issues, including divorce, custody, support, post-judgment and domestic violence cases from inception through resolution, either by mediation, arbitration or trial. She also handles enforcement or modification of marital agreements, alimony and child support awards, post judgment enforcement and modification of agreements and pre-nuptial agreements, as well as engaging in litigation practice to set them aside or for enforcement.

Hill Wallack LLP Family Law Attorneys Supti Bhattacharya and Albertina Webb invited to speak at NJSBA Mid-Year Meeting in Puerto Rico

07 Nov 2019

Hasta La Vista, Bebe! Family Law Issues in New Jersey and Puerto Rico

Supti Bhattacharya and Albertina (Abby) Webb have been invited to the New Jersey State Bar Mid-Year Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They will be among a panel of speakers discussing some of the most challenging issues in New Jersey Family Law. This seminar takes place on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

Supti Bhattacharya is a partner in the Princeton, N.J. office of Hill Wallack LLP, where she is Chairperson of the firm’s New Jersey Family Law practice group. Ms. Bhattacharya represents clients in matters involving Divorce, Separation, Custody, International Custody Issues, Child Support, Alimony, College Tuition and Expenses Contribution, Child Emancipation, Equitable Distribution of Assets, Domestic Violence, Pre-Nuptial Agreements and Mid-Marriage Agreements.

Albertina “Abby” Webb is a partner in the Red Bank, New Jersey office of Hill Wallack LLP, where she is a member of the firm’s Family Law practice group. Ms. Webb concentrates her practice on family law issues, including divorce, custody, support, post-judgment and domestic violence cases from inception through resolution, either by mediation, arbitration or trial. She also handles enforcement or modification of marital agreements, alimony and child support awards, post judgment enforcement and modification of agreements and pre-nuptial agreements, as well as engaging in litigation practice to set them aside or for enforcement.

Additional program information may be found here.

Hill Wallack LLP Welcomes Victoria A. Flynn

07 Nov 2019

Hill Wallack LLP is pleased to welcome Victoria A. Flynn as a partner in the firm's Red Bank, N.J. office. Ms. Flynn is a member of the firm’s Complex Litigation, Employment & Labor Law, Administrative Law/Government Contracts, Regulatory & Government Affairs, School Law and Municipal Law practice groups. Prior to joining Hill Wallack, Ms. Flynn was a partner at Gluck Walrath, LLP, Flynn Martin LLC and DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, LLP.

She is an experienced litigator, representing public and private clients, in State and Federal Court, at both the trial and appellate levels, in complex civil litigation matters. Ms. Flynn also specializes in counseling clients on Employment & Labor matters, conducting internal investigations, counseling clients with employer/employee disputes and representing clients in employment litigation matters that involve contract disputes, claims of discrimination and civil rights violations and whistleblower lawsuits.

Ms. Flynn is admitted to practice in New Jersey (1999) and before the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. She earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University Law School, cum laude and is a graduate of Rutgers College. Following law school, Ms. Flynn was selected by Justice Jaynee LaVecchia to serve as her first law clerk upon Justice LaVecchia’s appointment to the Supreme Court of New Jersey.