Pheasant Ridge Association, Inc. v. Harper
HOA Won- HOA
- Pheasant Ridge Association, Inc. / Villages of Pheasant Ridge
- Court
- Ohio · Ohio Court of Appeals, Second Appellate District
- Date decided
- April 24, 2026
- Category
- Assessments & Collections
A homeowner who fell behind on HOA assessments did not respond to the foreclosure complaint and tried to raise mental health and lack of personal contact as defenses on appeal. The court affirmed default judgment, holding the defenses were waived for not being raised below.
McKisick v. Discovery Bay Colony Property Owners Association
HOA Won- HOA
- Discovery Bay Colony Property Owners Association
- Court
- Arkansas · Arkansas Court of Appeals
- Date decided
- April 8, 2026
- Category
- Architectural Control
After a thunderstorm destroyed his carport, a homeowner rebuilt it without prior board approval. The court upheld removal of the carport but reversed the HOA's $9,440 attorney fee award because Arkansas does not allow fees in injunction-only cases.
Cave Bay Community Services Inc. v. Lohman
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Cave Bay Community Services, Inc.
- Court
- Idaho · Supreme Court of Idaho
- Date decided
- February 9, 2026
- Category
- Property / Easement / HOA Dues
An HOA tried to enforce a $1 option to buy 7.31 acres against a new property owner. The Idaho Supreme Court vacated the trial court's ruling, holding that specific performance is a remedy — not a standalone cause of action — and breach of contract had not been established.
Knight v. Sagewood Village Homeowners Association (Utah HOA Ombudsman)
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Sagewood Village Homeowners' Association
- Court
- Utah · Utah Office of the HOA Ombudsman (Administrative)
- Date decided
- September 8, 2025
- Category
- CC&R Enforcement / Parking
After Utah enacted a statute limiting HOAs from restricting operable vehicles in driveways, an HOA still tried to force a homeowner to move his trailer behind a six-foot fence. The Ombudsman held the new law preempts the restriction.
Tanner v. Layton Parke Estates Homeowners Association (Utah HOA Ombudsman)
HOA Won- HOA
- Layton Parke Estates Homeowners Association
- Court
- Utah · Utah Office of the HOA Ombudsman (Administrative)
- Date decided
- January 1, 2025
- Category
- CC&R Enforcement
A family built a city-permitted chicken coop, then the developer — still in the declarant control period — recorded an amendment banning all poultry. The Utah HOA Ombudsman concluded the amendment was within the declarant's authority and the HOA can require removal.
Pecchia v. Wayside Estates Home Owners Association, Inc.
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Wayside Estates Home Owners Association
- Court
- Florida · Fifth District Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- June 7, 2024
- Category
- Records Access / Transparency
Homeowners requested official records and the HOA missed the 10-business-day statutory deadline and produced incomplete records. The Florida appellate court held the statute's "shall" is absolute and triggers a rebuttable presumption of willful noncompliance.
11640 Woodbridge Condominium HOA v. Farmers Insurance Exchange
Homeowner Won- HOA
- 11640 Woodbridge Condominium Homeowners Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- January 1, 2024
- Category
- Insurance / Property
A roofing contractor left a condo building exposed and two rainstorms damaged half the units. The California Court of Appeal held that under an "all-risks" policy the insurer — not the HOA — bears the burden of proving any exclusion applies.
In re Kappmeyer (Kappmeyer v. Key Allegro Island Estates HOA)
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Key Allegro Island Estates Homeowners Association
- Court
- Texas · Supreme Court of Texas
- Date decided
- May 12, 2023
- Category
- CC&R Amendments / Governance
After homeowners challenged invalid CC&R amendments, the HOA insisted they join all ~700 other subdivision owners as parties or face dismissal. The Texas Supreme Court called that an abuse of discretion and granted mandamus relief.
Brown v. Montage at Mission Hills, Inc.
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Montage at Mission Hills
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- January 1, 2023
- Category
- Short-Term Rentals
An HOA tried to enforce a newly adopted short-term rental ban against a homeowner who had purchased before the ban existed. The California court held that under Civil Code § 4740 a rental "prohibition" cannot be applied retroactively to pre-existing owners.
Kalway v. Calabria Ranch HOA LLC
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Calabria Ranch HOA, LLC
- Court
- Arizona · Supreme Court of Arizona
- Date decided
- March 22, 2022
- Category
- CC&R Amendments / Governance
The other four owners in a five-lot subdivision amended the CC&Rs by majority vote to impose new restrictions on the largest landowner without his knowledge. The Arizona Supreme Court held that a general amendment power cannot be used to impose new affirmative obligations unless the original CC&Rs gave fair notice.
Artus v. Gramercy Towers Condominium Association
Dismissed/Procedural- HOA
- Gramercy Towers Condominium Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District
- Date decided
- January 1, 2022
- Category
- HOA Governance & Operations
California court clarifies attorney fee rules: when both the HOA and homeowner each win some and lose some, neither qualifies as 'prevailing party' and no fees are awarded to either side.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Mahogany Meadows Avenue Trust
HOA Won- HOA
- Mahogany Meadows HOA
- Court
- Nevada · Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Date decided
- November 5, 2020
- Category
- Assessments & Collections
The Ninth Circuit upheld Nevada's HOA superpriority lien law — an HOA foreclosing nine months of unpaid dues can legally wipe out a first mortgage and the bank can't claim it's a taking.
Sainani v. Belmont Glen Homeowners Association, Inc.
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Belmont Glen Homeowners Association, Inc.
- Court
- Virginia · Supreme Court of Virginia
- Date decided
- August 26, 2019
- Category
- Enforcement & Fines
Virginia Supreme Court landmark: HOA fined a family $884 and sought $40,000 in attorney fees over holiday string lights on their front door — Supreme Court says the HOA had no authority to make those rules in the first place.
Grossman v. Park Fort Washington Association
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Park Fort Washington Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
- Date decided
- January 1, 2019
- Category
- Assessments & Collection
California court confirms homeowners can recover attorney fees for the mandatory ADR process they go through before suing their HOA — the Davis-Stirling fee-shifting applies from the very start of the dispute.
Sanzaro v. Ardiente Homeowners Association
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Ardiente HOA
- Court
- Nevada · United States District Court, D. Nevada
- Date decided
- January 1, 2018
- Category
- Discrimination / Fair Housing
A Nevada HOA banned a disabled woman from its clubhouse because of her service animal — and paid for it personally: damages were entered against board members individually.
Eith v. Ketelhut
HOA Won- HOA
- Unnamed California HOA
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- January 1, 2018
- Category
- CC&R Amendments / Governance
California court extends HOA board deference beyond maintenance decisions: the board's call that a homeowner's backyard grape cultivation for wine wasn't 'commercial activity' gets judicial rubber stamp.
Franklin v. Marie Antoinette Condominium Owners Association
HOA Won- HOA
- Marie Antoinette Condominium Owners Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District
- Date decided
- January 1, 2018
- Category
- HOA Governance & Operations
California court upholds CC&R liability limits: if your HOA's governing documents say they aren't responsible for certain types of damage, that clause is valid — it's not against public policy.
Property Plus Investments, LLC v. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.
HOA Won- HOA
- Unnamed Nevada HOA
- Court
- Nevada · Supreme Court of Nevada
- Date decided
- September 14, 2017
- Category
- Foreclosure & Liens
Nevada Supreme Court rules that paying off a HOA super-lien doesn't buy permanent protection — if the homeowner falls behind again, the HOA gets a brand new super-priority lien that can again wipe out the mortgage.
Ironwood Owners Association IX v. Solomon
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Ironwood Owners Association IX
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District
- Date decided
- January 1, 2017
- Category
- Enforcement & Fines
California court: HOAs have to follow their own playbook when enforcing architectural rules — if the HOA didn't follow its own procedures, the enforcement action is void.
Bourne Valley Court Trust v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Dismissed/Procedural- HOA
- Parks Homeowners' Association (underlying HOA)
- Court
- Nevada · U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- Date decided
- August 12, 2016
- Category
- Foreclosure & Liens
Ninth Circuit strikes down Nevada's HOA super-lien foreclosure scheme as unconstitutional — a lender can't lose its $174,000 mortgage without even being told the HOA was foreclosing.
Tvardek v. Powhatan Village Homeowners Association
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Powhatan Village Homeowners Association
- Court
- Virginia · Supreme Court of Virginia
- Date decided
- April 14, 2016
- Category
- CC&R Amendments / Governance
Virginia Supreme Court rules homeowners can challenge a 2008 CC&R amendment years later — because the HOA never properly certified it, the limitations clock never started running.
Shadow Wood Homeowners Association v. New York Community Bancorp, Inc.
Dismissed/Procedural- HOA
- Shadow Wood Homeowners Association, Inc.
- Court
- Nevada · Supreme Court of Nevada
- Date decided
- January 28, 2016
- Category
- Foreclosure & Liens
Nevada Supreme Court: HOA foreclosure deeds aren't bulletproof — fraud can overcome the conclusive deed recitals, but innocent buyers who paid fair value at HOA auctions are still protected.
Southern Highlands Community Association v. San Florentine Avenue Trust
HOA Won- HOA
- Southern Highlands Community Association
- Court
- Nevada · Supreme Court of Nevada
- Date decided
- January 14, 2016
- Category
- Foreclosure & Liens
Nevada Supreme Court rules two HOA liens on the same property are equal — but if one HOA forecloses, the other HOA loses its lien entirely, a major shift that left many associations scrambling.
Nellie Gail Ranch Owners Association v. McMullin
HOA Won- HOA
- Nellie Gail Ranch Owners Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District
- Date decided
- January 1, 2016
- Category
- Boundary / Easement
A California court set clear limits on homeowners trying to claim HOA common area as their own through adverse possession — you can't acquire what you haven't paid taxes on.
Dolan v. Fairbanks Capital Corp. (HOA COVID Assessment Context)
Dismissed/Procedural- HOA
- Raintree of Albemarle Homeowners Association
- Court
- Virginia · Supreme Court of Virginia
- Date decided
- January 1, 2016
- Category
- Enforcement & Fines
Virginia Supreme Court applies strict construction to 'no trucks' covenant: HOA can't enforce parking rules against one family while ignoring identical violations by neighbors — selective enforcement is a real defense.
Harvey v. The Landing Homeowners Association
HOA Won- HOA
- The Landing Homeowners Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- January 1, 2016
- Category
- HOA Governance & Operations
California court gives HOA boards a roadmap: if an interested director fully discloses their conflict and sits out the vote, the homeowner challenging the deal has to prove it was unfair — not the other way around.
Watts v. Oak Shores Community Assn.
HOA Won- HOA
- Oak Shores Community Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- August 17, 2015
- Category
- Short-Term Rentals
Owners challenged HOA rules and fees imposed on short-term rentals. The court upheld the rules and the association's authority to charge reasonable fees tied to short-term rental use.
Tract 19051 Homeowners Association v. Kemp
HOA Won- HOA
- Tract 19051 HOA
- Court
- California · California Supreme Court
- Date decided
- March 5, 2015
- Category
- Attorney Fees / CC&R Enforcement
The California Supreme Court expanded the reach of the Davis-Stirling attorney fees statute to HOA enforcement actions even when the development is not technically a CID.
Healy v. Tuscany Hills Landscape and Recreation Corporation
HOA Won- HOA
- Tuscany Hills Landscape and Recreation Corporation
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District
- Date decided
- January 1, 2015
- Category
- HOA Governance & Operations
California court protects HOA boards: when a condo association sends members a required litigation disclosure letter, its contents are absolutely privileged — the board can't be sued for defamation over what it says in that letter.
SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC v. U.S. Bank, N.A.
HOA Won- HOA
- Southern Highlands Community Association
- Court
- Nevada · Supreme Court of Nevada
- Date decided
- September 18, 2014
- Category
- Foreclosure & Liens
Nevada Supreme Court landmark: HOA lien for 9 months of unpaid dues is a true super-priority that wipes out a $885,000 first mortgage when foreclosed — investors began buying HOA foreclosure properties at pennies on the dollar.
Huntington Continental Townhouse Association, Inc. v. Miner
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Huntington Continental Townhouse Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- January 1, 2014
- Category
- Assessments & Collections
A California court ruled HOAs must take partial payments and apply them in the proper statutory order — refusing payment to pile on fees is not allowed even after a lien is recorded.
In re De Guillen (Highland Greens Homeowners Assn. v. De Guillen)
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Highland Greens HOA
- Court
- California · Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit
- Date decided
- July 12, 2013
- Category
- Assessments & Collections
California's BAP ruled that HOAs cannot use a single lien notice to capture all future unpaid assessments — a new notice is required before each new lien.
Diamond v. Superior Court
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Not specified
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Sixth District
- Date decided
- July 12, 2013
- Category
- Assessments & Collections
A California appellate court held that HOAs must follow pre-foreclosure notice rules to the letter — "substantial compliance" is not enough when a homeowner's property is on the line.
Pinnacle Museum Tower Assn. v. Pinnacle Market Development
HOA Won- HOA
- Pinnacle Museum Tower Association
- Court
- California · California Supreme Court
- Date decided
- August 16, 2012
- Category
- Construction Defect / Arbitration
The court enforced a developer-drafted arbitration clause in recorded CC&Rs against a condominium association in a construction defect dispute.
Mazdabrook Commons Homeowners' Assn. v. Khan
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Mazdabrook Commons Homeowners' Association
- Court
- New Jersey · New Jersey Supreme Court
- Date decided
- June 13, 2012
- Category
- Free Speech / Signs
An HOA fined an owner for posting political campaign signs in his own window and yard. The New Jersey Supreme Court struck down the sign ban as an unreasonable restriction on political speech.
In re Manchester Oaks Homeowners Association, Inc.
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Manchester Oaks HOA
- Court
- Virginia · United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Virginia
- Date decided
- February 29, 2012
- Category
- CC&R Amendments / Governance
An HOA's illegal parking restrictions and botched CC&R amendment drove it into bankruptcy after $27,000+ per homeowner was awarded plus nearly $189,000 in attorney fees.
Lake Lindero Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Barone
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Lake Lindero HOA
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District
- Date decided
- January 1, 2012
- Category
- Governance / Elections
Two HOA governance rules were clarified in one case: courts can review whether a board recall was legitimate, and email chains between board members are not the same as a formal meeting.
Villa De Jardines Association v. Flagstar Bank, FSB
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Villa De Jardines Association
- Court
- Arizona · Arizona Court of Appeals
- Date decided
- January 1, 2011
- Category
- Assessments & Collections
An Arizona court sanctioned HOA attorneys for trying to foreclose on a first mortgage — a legally baseless position that wasted court resources and harmed a lender.
Affan v. Portofino Cove Homeowners Association
HOA Won- HOA
- Portofino Cove HOA
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District
- Date decided
- November 1, 2010
- Category
- Board Discretion / Maintenance
Homeowner sued an HOA for negligent maintenance; the court refined the judicial deference rule — boards can't hide behind Lamden if they never investigated the problem at all.
Vizzi v. Parc Corniche Condominium Association
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Parc Corniche Condominium Association
- Court
- Florida · Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- March 1, 2010
- Category
- Rule Enforcement / Parking
An HOA sued a homeowner for parking his truck in his own driveway — after years of allowing it — and lost on appeal, with over $300,000 in total costs.
Dover Village Association v. Jennison
Homeowner Won- HOA
- Dover Village Association
- Court
- California · California Court of Appeal
- Date decided
- January 1, 2010
- Category
- Board Discretion / Maintenance
A California court held that when CC&Rs are ambiguous about who is responsible for maintenance and repairs, the HOA cannot hide behind the deference rule.
Committee for a Better Twin Rivers v. Twin Rivers Homeowners' Assn.
HOA Won- HOA
- Twin Rivers Homeowners' Association
- Court
- New Jersey · New Jersey Supreme Court
- Date decided
- July 26, 2007
- Category
- Free Speech / Signs
Residents argued that HOA rules limiting signs and access to the community newspaper violated the New Jersey Constitution. The court ruled the HOA's restrictions were reasonable.
Villa De Las Palmas Homeowners Assn. v. Terifaj
HOA Won- HOA
- Villa De Las Palmas Homeowners Association
- Court
- California · California Supreme Court
- Date decided
- August 23, 2004
- Category
- Pet Restrictions
An owner argued a later-adopted pet ban could not be enforced against her because she purchased before its adoption. The court held duly adopted use restrictions bind all owners.
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