Tag Archives: John Crotty, Esq.

Clifford (Norm) Burnes v. Saguaro Crest Homeowners Association, Inc.

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Case Summary

Case ID 21F-H2121051-REL-RHG
Agency ADRE
Tribunal OAH
Decision Date 2022-01-03
Administrative Law Judge Thomas Shedden
Outcome loss
Filing Fees Refunded $0.00
Civil Penalties $0.00

Parties & Counsel

Petitioner Clifford (Norm) Burnes Counsel —
Respondent Saguaro Crest Homeowners Association, Inc. Counsel John Crotty, Esq.

Alleged Violations

ARIZ. REV STAT. section 33-1804

Outcome Summary

The Administrative Law Judge Decision dismissed the petition, concluding that the Respondent HOA, Saguaro Crest, did not violate the open meeting law (A.R.S. § 33-1804) because the action taken via unanimous written consent was legally considered action without a meeting under A.R.S. § 10-3821.

Why this result: Petitioner failed to prove that a 'meeting' occurred on May 3, 2020. The Board actions were validly taken without a meeting pursuant to A.R.S. § 10-3821, which supersedes the open meeting requirements of A.R.S. § 33-1804 when action is taken by unanimous written consent.

Key Issues & Findings

Violation of the open meeting law by taking two actions via unanimous written consent.

Petitioner alleged that the Respondent's Board of Directors violated A.R.S. § 33-1804 on May 3, 2020, by taking two actions using unanimous written consent of the Board members, arguing this was equivalent to an informal meeting. Respondent asserted that taking action by unanimous consent, as allowed by A.R.S. § 10-3821, means no meeting actually occurred and therefore 33-1804 did not apply.

Orders: Petitioner's petition is dismissed. Respondent is deemed the prevailing party.

Filing fee: $0.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: petitioner_loss

Cited:

  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 33-1804
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 10-3821
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 10-3701(F)
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 32-2199.02(A)
  • Deer Valley, v. Houser, 214 Ariz. 293, 152 P.3d 490 (2007)
  • City of Phoenix v. Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. 247 Ariz. 234 (2019)

Analytics Highlights

Topics: HOA, open meeting law, written consent, statutory interpretation, planned community, board of directors
Additional Citations:

  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 33-1804
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 10-3821
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 32-2199
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 32-2199.02
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 41-1092.08
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 10-3071
  • ARIZ. REV STAT. section 10-3701
  • ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE § R2-19-116(H)
  • ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE § R2-19-119
  • Deer Valley, v. Houser, 214 Ariz. 293, 152 P.3d 490 (2007)
  • City of Phoenix v. Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. 247 Ariz. 234 (2019)

Audio Overview

Decision Documents

21F-H2121051-REL-RHG Decision – 930803.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:37:19 (46.9 KB)

21F-H2121051-REL-RHG Decision – 935756.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:37:19 (124.8 KB)

Clifford (Norm) S. Burnes v. Saguaro Crest Homeowners Association,

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Case Summary

Case ID 21F-H2120002-REL-RHG
Agency ADRE
Tribunal OAH
Decision Date 2021-08-09
Administrative Law Judge Jenna Clark
Outcome partial
Filing Fees Refunded $500.00
Civil Penalties $0.00

Parties & Counsel

Petitioner Clifford Burnes and Maria Burnes Counsel Cynthia F. Burnes, Esq.
Respondent Saguaro Crest Homeowners Association, Inc. Counsel John Crotty, Esq.

Alleged Violations

CC&Rs Section 5
Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0
ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804
ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805

Outcome Summary

The prior decision granting Petitioners' petition regarding Issue 4 (violation of A.R.S. § 33-1805) and denying Issues 1-3 is affirmed. Respondent must reimburse 1/4 of the Petitioners’ filing fee ($125.00) and provide the missing email attachments.

Why this result: Petitioners failed to sustain their burden of proof regarding alleged violations of CC&Rs Section 5, Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0, and A.R.S. § 33-1804.

Key Issues & Findings

Alleged violation of CC&Rs Section 5

The Association allegedly allowed construction on Lot 7 without the submission of required documents to the Architectural Review Committee for approval.

Orders: Petition denied.

Filing fee: $0.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: respondent_win

Cited:

  • CC&Rs Section 5

Alleged violation of Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0

The Association allegedly allowed construction on Lot 7 without the required $5,000.00 Construction Compliance Deposit.

Orders: Petition denied.

Filing fee: $0.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: respondent_win

Cited:

  • Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0

Alleged violation of A.R.S. § 33-1804(A), (D), and (E)

The Association’s Board of Directors allegedly conducted an unnoticed meeting to consider matters relevant to Petitioner.

Orders: Petition denied.

Filing fee: $0.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: respondent_win

Cited:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 10-3821

Alleged violation of A.R.S. § 33-1805

The Association failed to timely and completely fulfill Petitioners’ records request, specifically by not providing missing email attachments referenced in the documentation.

Orders: Respondent must henceforth comply with ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805 and provide Petitioners with the missing email attachments related to the June 04, 2020, records request within 10-business days.

Filing fee: $500.00, Fee refunded: Yes

Disposition: petitioner_win

Cited:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805

Analytics Highlights

Topics: HOA dispute, records request, architectural control, construction deposit, open meetings, statutory violation, CC&R violation
Additional Citations:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.05
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 10-3821
  • Tierra Ranchos Homeowners Ass'n v. Kitchukov, 216 Ariz. 195, 165 P.3d 173 (App. 2007)

Audio Overview

Decision Documents

21F-H2120002-REL-RHG Decision – 902726.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:35:44 (239.9 KB)

Clifford (Norm) S. Burnes v. Saguaro Crest Homeowners Association,

Posted on by

Case Summary

Case ID 21F-H2120002-REL-RHG
Agency ADRE
Tribunal OAH
Decision Date 2021-08-09
Administrative Law Judge Jenna Clark
Outcome partial
Filing Fees Refunded $500.00
Civil Penalties $0.00

Parties & Counsel

Petitioner Clifford Burnes and Maria Burnes Counsel Cynthia F. Burnes, Esq.
Respondent Saguaro Crest Homeowners Association, Inc. Counsel John Crotty, Esq.

Alleged Violations

CC&Rs Section 5
Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0
ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A), (D), and (E)
ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805

Outcome Summary

The final decision affirmed the denial of Issues 1, 2, and 3, and the granting of Issue 4. The Association was found to have violated ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805 for failing to provide complete records in a timely manner, resulting in the reimbursement of 1/4 of the filing fee.

Why this result: Petitioners failed to sustain the burden of proof regarding alleged violations of CC&Rs Section 5, Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0, and A.R.S. § 33-1804(A), (D), and (E).

Key Issues & Findings

Alleged violation of CC&Rs Section 5

Petitioners alleged that the HOA violated the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), Section 5, by allowing construction on Lot 7 without prior ARC approval of required documents.

Orders: Petition denied.

Filing fee: $125.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: petitioner_loss

Cited:

  • CC&Rs Section 5

Alleged violation of Community Agricultural Design Guidelines Section 4.0

Petitioners alleged that the HOA violated the Architectural Design Guidelines, Section 4.0, by failing to require the required $5,000.00 Construction Compliance Deposit for Lot 7.

Orders: Petition denied.

Filing fee: $125.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: petitioner_loss

Cited:

  • Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 10-3821

Alleged violation of A.R.S. § 33-1804(A), (D), and (E)

Petitioners alleged that the Board conducted an unnoticed closed meeting in violation of Arizona open meeting statutes.

Orders: Petition denied.

Filing fee: $125.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: petitioner_loss

Cited:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(D)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(E)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT § 10-3821

Alleged violation of A.R.S. § 33-1805

Petitioners alleged that the HOA failed to timely and completely fulfill a records request submitted on June 04, 2020, specifically by failing to provide missing email attachments.

Orders: Respondent must reimburse 1/4 of Petitioners' filing fee ($125.00). Respondent must henceforth comply with A.R.S. § 33-1805 and provide the missing email attachments within 10-business days.

Filing fee: $125.00, Fee refunded: Yes

Disposition: petitioner_win

Cited:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805

Analytics Highlights

Topics: HOA Statute Violation, Records Request, Filing Fee Refund, Architectural Review, Open Meetings
Additional Citations:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2102
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.01
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.02
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.05
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(D)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(E)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1805
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 10-3821
  • CC&Rs Section 5
  • Architectural Design Guidelines Section 4.0

Audio Overview

Decision Documents

21F-H2120002-REL Decision – 902726.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:35:42 (239.9 KB)