Community Association Law
Our attorneys earn their reputation every day by navigating a clear, results-driven legal path for our clients.
Community Association Law
Ansell Grimm & Aaron’s Community Association attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience representing community associations. We provide dynamic, creative, and effective representation to condominiums, community associations, cooperatives, and homeowners associations. We deliver a full range of legal advice and services, including the drafting and negotiation of service contracts, rules and regulations, alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”), collections, delinquent assessments and common charges, transition negotiations with developers and/or sponsors, complex construction defect litigation, municipal services and relations, fair housing compliance, restrictive covenant enforcement and interpretation, any necessary litigation-related services, governance, and the fiduciary duties of board members.
We pride ourselves on being available, reliable, and a great partner to all our clients.
Typical Matters Handled
We currently represent associations throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, including but not limited to:
- Age-restricted and active-adult associations
- Urban, suburban, rural and waterfront communities and buildings
- Self-managed associations and those managed by management companies
- Newly constructed and developed communities, and mature associations and buildings
- Lake communities, resort and golf communities, and hotel condominiums
Representative Matters Handled
- Won 2020 trial verdict on condominium’s behalf dismissing animal owner’s United States Fair Housing Act and New Jersey Law Against Discrimination civil rights lawsuit following the condominium’s decision to deny an accommodation to the owner
- Prevailed in lawsuit through the New Jersey Supreme Court helping associations to recover certain consequential damages from a contractor’s commercial general liability insurance policy, a decision reported at Cypress Point Condominium Association, Inc. v. Adria Towers, LLC, et al., 226 N.J. 403 (2016)
- Won summary judgment on condominium’s behalf, and against a sponsor, validating the condominium’s liens recorded against unbuilt and unsold units
- Achieved dismissal of the complaint of several condominium owners in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, regarding the United States Fair Housing Act, parking issues and allegations of retaliation, a decision reported at Sporn, et al. v. Ocean Colony Condominium Association, Inc., et al., 173 F. Supp 2nd 244 (D.N.J. 2001)
- Achieved Appellate Division’s reversal of a trial court’s refusal to apply the Municipal Services Act (“Kelly Bill”) to a community association in development, a decision reported at Briarglen II Condominium Association, Inc. v. Township of Freehold, 330 N.J. Super. 345 (App. Div. 2000)
- Won landmark New Jersey Appellate Court decision upholding parking-related rules on public roads in a private community and protecting that board from a defamation suit, a decision reported as Verna v. Links at Valleybrook Neighborhood Association, Inc. at 371 N.J. Super 77 (App. Div. 2004)
- Successfully argued that a condominium need not provide alternative dispute regulations (ADR) prior to instituting an action for injunctive relief, in a reported decision, Finderne Heights Condo. Association, Inc. v. Rabinowitz, 390 N.J. Super. 154 (App. Div. 2007)
- Served as lead counsel to Leisure Village, successfully establishing, in 2012, that New Jersey’s Municipal Services Act does not bar the claims of qualified private communities made more than one year after the community’s costs had been incurred, in a case titled Leisure Village Association v. Township of Lakewood (L-1684-11)
- Prevailed in a plenary hearing proving that all the community’s roads are “roads” and eligible for reimbursements and/or services, for the purposes of New Jersey Municipal Services Act
- Argued a groundbreaking appeal in Woodlake at Kings Grant Condominium v. Mesey, resulting in an appellate court opinion that recognized a court is empowered to grant a condominium’s application to place a unit into rent receivership, in the context of that condominium’s lien foreclosure
- Protected HOA through the New Jersey Supreme Court ensuring Municipal Services Act protection during “transition” from a developer, a decision reported at Ramapo River Reserve Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Borough of Oakland, 186 N.J. 439 (2006)
- Successfully appeared before New Jersey’s Appellate Division, arguing in favor of a community association’s right to tow vehicles, enforce restrictive covenants, protect owners’ privacy, and the collection of assessments and attorneys’ fees
