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An Editorial
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FREE SPEECH UNDER ATTACK IN AMERICA'S HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS??
Say it ain't so.....
March 30, 2008
By
Ann Roth
(View author info)
Copyright Ann Roth
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| Orange County, California - When Homeowner Association homeowners go up against HOA Board members in protest of any issue - they are often the underdogs in being able to get information out to the rest of the homeowners.
The HOA board, on the other hand, has access to all of the HOA dues to send out their propaganda mailers, flyers, and newsletters and with the support of the HOA's lawyers, of course. The protesting homeowner(s) are often left having to fund their fight out of their own pockets, in addition to funding the HOA board's agenda through their HOA dues.
However - homeowner's do have the internet and often utilize it as a cost effective means of communicating amongst themselves to discuss their concerns - and so they should!
After American Homeowners Resource Center (AHRC.com) began publishing HOAs news in 1997 and helped and encouraged homeowners to publish their experiences and stories and set up websites, homeowner advocate websites have popped up across the country but the HOA's, their Boards, and their lawyers don't like this. They have been known to attempt to squelch the voice of homeowners and freedom of speech by wielding costly litigation over homeowner's heads.
They do so at great financial cost and risk to all the homeowners, their home equity, and their home values. America's housing crisis is compounded by HOA's and litigation.
Nobody wants to buy into a lawsuit.
But here we go again, another group of homeowners being sued by an HOA and its Board claiming they have been libeled, slandered, and defamed in some internet postings. Say it ain't so......
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Frisco homeowners association, residents in free speech fight
11:27 PM CDT on Sunday, March 23, 2008
By JIM GETZ / The Dallas Morning News
jgetz@dallasnews.com
FRISCO - It started as a typical neighborhood tussle, a disagreement over screening bushes and air-conditioning units.
But now, the arguing between the Frisco Fairways Homeowners Association and three of its residents has erupted into a full-blown legal battle over free speech that may have ramifications for members of homeowner associations across Texas.
Last month, the association sued David Snell, David Doumani and Doug Macari in Denton County state district court on charges of libel, slander and defamation, claiming the three harmed the association and its board members by posting messages critical of them in an online forum.
• For more on this article..
HOMEOWNERS PLEASE CONTACT: Charles Davis at the Missouri School of Journalism and ask them to support HOA homeowners and their free speech rights! Share with Mr. Davis this attempt to "foreclose" on AHRC.com as well.
National Freedom of Information Coalition
Missouri School of Journalism
133 Neff Annex
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone -- 573.882.5736
Fax -- 573.884.6204 |
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