Tag Archives: Bylaws Violation

R.L. Whitmer v. Hilton Casitas Council of Homeowners (ROOT)

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Case Summary

Case ID 23F-H052-REL No. 23F-H064-REL
Agency ADRE
Tribunal OAH
Decision Date 2023-08-28
Administrative Law Judge Brian Del Vecchio
Outcome partial
Filing Fees Refunded $1,000.00
Civil Penalties $0.00

Parties & Counsel

Petitioner R.L. Whitmer Counsel —
Respondent Hilton Casitas Council of Homeowners Counsel Emily H. Mann

Alleged Violations

Article III Section 3 of the Bylaws of Hilton Casitas Council of Co-owners
ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1250(C)

Outcome Summary

The Administrative Law Judge affirmed the petition regarding the Bylaws violation (annual meeting held 27 days late, 23F-H052-REL) but denied the request for civil penalties. The ALJ dismissed the petition regarding the alleged statutory violation of in-person voting requirements (23F-H064-REL), finding Petitioner did not meet his burden of proof. Petitioner was reimbursed the $500 filing fee for the prevailing issue.

Why this result: Petitioner lost the statutory claim (23F-H064-REL) due to failure to provide sufficient evidence for a narrow interpretation of 'in person' voting. Petitioner failed to prove that civil penalties were warranted for the Bylaws violation (23F-H052-REL).

Key Issues & Findings

Failure to hold the annual meeting prior to March 31, 2023 (23F-H052-REL)

Petitioner alleged Respondent failed to hold the annual meeting by the Bylaws' deadline of March 31, 2023. Respondent stipulated that the meeting, held on April 27, 2023, was late, constituting a violation.

Orders: Respondent violated Article III Section 3 of the Bylaws; Petition affirmed. Petitioner was denied civil penalties but was reimbursed the $500.00 filing fee.

Filing fee: $500.00, Fee refunded: Yes

Disposition: petitioner_win

Cited:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.02

Alleged violation for failing to allow in-person voting (23F-H064-REL)

Petitioner alleged Respondent violated the statute by allowing voting only through video conferencing and failing to provide an opportunity for in-person voting. The ALJ found Petitioner failed to provide sufficient evidence to support a narrow interpretation of 'in person' that excludes remote video attendance.

Orders: Respondent did not violate ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1250(C). Petition dismissed.

Filing fee: $500.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: respondent_win

Cited:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1250(C)

Analytics Highlights

Topics: HOA Annual Meeting Deadline, Bylaws Violation, HOA Voting Procedure, In-Person Voting, Video Conferencing Voting, Civil Penalties, Mootness Defense, Waiver Defense
Additional Citations:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1250(C)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.02
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.05
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2102
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.01(A)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.01(D)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 41-1092 et seq.
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 41-1092.09

Audio Overview

Decision Documents

23F-H052-REL Decision – 1071110.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:41:50 (50.2 KB)

23F-H052-REL Decision – 1071477.pdf

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23F-H052-REL Decision – 1074907.pdf

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23F-H052-REL Decision – 1088736.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:41:51 (113.8 KB)

Barbara J. Ryan v. Dragoon Mountain Ranch Phase I Meadows Property

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Case Summary

Case ID 23F-H035-REL
Agency ADRE
Tribunal OAH
Decision Date 2023-04-17
Administrative Law Judge Velva Moses-Thompson
Outcome full
Filing Fees Refunded $500.00
Civil Penalties $0.00

Parties & Counsel

Petitioner Barbara J. Ryan Counsel —
Respondent Dragoon Mountain Ranch Phase I Meadows Property Owners Association Counsel Jody Corrales, Esq.

Alleged Violations

A.R.S. § 33-1804, A.R.S. § 33-1318, Respondent’s Bylaws sections 7.1, 7.2, 12.1 – 12.3

Outcome Summary

The Petitioner was deemed the prevailing party. The ALJ found the Respondent violated Bylaw section 7.1 by failing to hold an annual members meeting in 2021 and 2022. Respondent was ordered to refund the $500 filing fee and ensure future compliance with Bylaw section 7.1. No civil penalty was imposed.

Why this result: The violation (failure to hold an annual member meeting) was undisputed by the Respondent, and Respondent's counsel conceded there were no legal defenses to this fact.

Key Issues & Findings

Failure to hold an annual members meeting in two years and ignoring members written petitions and requests for a meeting

It was undisputed that the Respondent HOA failed to hold an annual meeting of the members from March 2020 to the time of the hearing. The ALJ found by a preponderance of the evidence that the Respondent violated section 7.1 of its Bylaws.

Orders: Respondent must pay the Petitioner's filing fee of $500.00 within thirty days and is directed to comply with section 7.1 of its Bylaws going forward. No civil penalty was found appropriate.

Filing fee: $500.00, Fee refunded: Yes

Disposition: petitioner_win

Cited:

  • A.R.S. § 33-1804
  • A.R.S. § 33-1318
  • Respondent’s Bylaws sections 7.1
  • Respondent’s Bylaws sections 7.2
  • Respondent’s Bylaws sections 12.1 – 12.3
  • A.R.S. § 32-2199(B)
  • A.R.S. § 33-1803
  • A.R.S. § 41-1092.07(G)(2)
  • A.A.C. R2-19-119(A)
  • A.A.C. R2-19-119(B)(1)
  • A.A.C. R2-19-119(B)(2)
  • A.R.S. §32-2199.02(B)
  • A.R.S. § 41-1092.09

Analytics Highlights

Topics: HOA Annual Meeting, Bylaws Violation, Filing Fee Refund, Administrative Hearing, Planned Community
Additional Citations:

  • A.R.S. § 33-1804
  • A.R.S. § 33-1318
  • Respondent’s Bylaws sections 7.1
  • Respondent’s Bylaws sections 7.2
  • Respondent’s Bylaws sections 12.1 – 12.3
  • A.R.S. § 32-2199(B)
  • A.R.S. § 33-1803
  • A.R.S. § 41-1092.07(G)(2)
  • A.A.C. R2-19-119(A)
  • A.A.C. R2-19-119(B)(1)
  • A.A.C. R2-19-119(B)(2)
  • A.R.S. §32-2199.02(B)
  • A.R.S. § 41-1092.09

Audio Overview

Decision Documents

23F-H035-REL Decision – 1043132.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:41:06 (55.9 KB)

23F-H035-REL Decision – 1048244.pdf

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23F-H035-REL Decision – 1049662.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:41:07 (18.7 KB)

23F-H035-REL Decision – 1049665.pdf

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23F-H035-REL Decision – 1049666.pdf

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Nancy Bender v. Foothills Townhomes Association, Inc.

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Case Summary

Case ID 21F-H2121048-REL
Agency ADRE
Tribunal OAH
Decision Date 2021-08-23
Administrative Law Judge Jenna Clark
Outcome loss
Filing Fees Refunded $500.00
Civil Penalties $0.00

Parties & Counsel

Petitioner Nancy Bender Counsel —
Respondent Foothills Townhomes Association, Inc. Counsel Jason Smith, Esq.

Alleged Violations

Community Bylaws 3.03

Outcome Summary

The petition was denied because Petitioner failed to sustain her burden of proof that the Association violated Community Bylaws 3.03, as the issue regarding a special meeting was found to be unripe. Other alleged statutory violations were inapplicable.

Why this result: Petitioner did not sustain the burden of proof (preponderance of the evidence) on the Bylaws violation because the condition precedent (requesting or holding a special meeting) had not occurred, rendering the issue unripe. The statutory violations cited were inapplicable to the Association.

Key Issues & Findings

Whether Foothills Townhomes Association, Inc. violated Community Bylaws 3.03 and ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1248(A), 33-1248(B), and 33-1261(D).

Petitioner alleged the Association violated Community Bylaws 3.03 when it drafted and posted a letter directed to Petitioner on its online platform, in response to private correspondence (a draft special meeting request) that had not yet been submitted to the Board, which Petitioner perceived as an attempt to dismantle a platform for discussion and retaliate against her.

Orders: Petitioner’s petition is denied.

Filing fee: $500.00, Fee refunded: No

Disposition: petitioner_loss

Cited:

  • Community Bylaws 3.03
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1248(A)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1248(B)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1261(D)

Analytics Highlights

Topics: HOA Dispute, Planned Community, Bylaws Violation, Jurisdiction, Unripe Issue, Special Meeting, Filing Fee Paid
Additional Citations:

  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1248(A)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1248(B)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1261(D)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 32-2102
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 32-2199 et seq.
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.05
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 32-2199(2)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 32-2199.01(A)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 32-2199.01(D)
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 32-2199.02
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 41-1092 et seq.
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1243
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.04
  • ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 41-1092.09
  • ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE R2-19-119
  • Tierra Ranchos Homeowners Ass'n v. Kitchukov
  • Community Bylaws 3.03

Audio Overview

Decision Documents

21F-H2121048-REL Decision – 906190.pdf

Uploaded 2025-10-09T03:37:08 (117.4 KB)