Keynote Speaker Find out what’s happening in the California legislature that may affect your community! Join Louie Brown, CAI’s California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC) lobbyist, to learn about trends affecting California community associations, how to prepare for new changes, and what to expect in the coming year.

OPTIONAL PRE-FORUM Sessions:

8 Hour California Law Course (Common-Interest Development (CID))

Thursday, Oct. 19, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (registration begins at 7:30 a.m.) at the Sheraton Universal Hotel

This eight-hour, pre-forum session is an in-depth legal course for community managers, board members, and attorneys in California. Taught by experienced community association attorneys, this is the most comprehensive legal course available covering California and federal laws affecting community associations. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the Davis-Stirling Act, California Corporations Code, and common law as they relate to CIDs. A California CID Law Seminar workbook, a valuable resource for use after the seminar, is included. Topics covered include: conflict of interest, governance, board members’ fiduciary duties, operations, homeowners’ rights and responsibilities, finances, reserves and assessment collections, meetings (notices and voting), rules enforcement and disclosure requirements, and CID and board liability.

Registration fees (lunch included) on or before Sept. 30: $95 members | $130 nonmembers
After Sept. 30: $110 members | $145 nonmembers

Business Partners Essentials Course

Thursday, Oct. 19, 1-3 p.m. (registration begins at 12:30 p.m.) at the Sheraton Universal Hotel

Now you can attend the CAI online course in person on October 19 in conjunction with the State Legal Forum. This class will give Business Partners practical information and advice on working with community associations.

Individuals who complete the class and pass a voluntary exam online will earn the CAI Educated Business Partner Distinction. By successfully completing this course and receiving this distinction, you will be able to demonstrate insight regarding community association living while working with boards and managers.
Instructors: Cat Carmichael, CMCA, PCAM, Pacific Premier Bank, and Cyndi Koester, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, SwedelsomGottlieb

Legal Forum exhibitors will be given priority, and will be able to select their booth location before the regularly-scheduled 4:00 p.m. move-in.

Registration fees (includes online exam registration): $99 | Limited to 50 attendees

Legal Forum Education Sessions:

Crazy California Cases

Join this interactive presentation for a fun and entertaining look at some of the strange and crazy community association cases decided by the California court system. Listen to open discussion about the cases, laugh, and learn from the mistakes of others.
Roger Grant, Esq., Fenton Grant Mayfield Kaneda & Litt, LLP; Dave Potter, CMCA, AMS, FirstService Residential

Recreational Marijuana Use: New Laws and HOA Issues

Recreational marijuana use is one of the most controversial issues for community associations, managers, and management companies, especially with the constant changes in the law regarding
medical and recreational purposes. Learn the basics of federal and state marijuana laws and find out how to handle issues involving use of marijuana in the communities you manage.
Richard Salpietra, Esq.,* Law Offices of Richard Salpietra; Jon H. Epsten, Esq.,* Epsten Grinnell & Howell, APC

Are Your Governing Documents Outdated?

Is your community association struggling with outdated legal documents? Do they conflict with the Civil Code of California and Corporations Code? Do your boards waste hours trying to figure out whether the association or homeowners are responsible for certain obligations? Learn about the importance of maintaining updated documents, the difference between amending and restating your documents, and which membership requirements allow for successful document approval.
Sandra Gottlieb, Esq.,* SwedelsonGottlieb; Karen Holthe, CMCA, AMS, Cardinal Property Management, AAMC

Nightmare on Wisteria Lane

Join a hair-raising discussion of the spooky, startling, and strange tales of life (and death) in common-interest developments. Hear macabre stories stolen from the headlines (and the speakers’ experiences) and learn about common difficult issues faced by managers, including host-liquor liability; how to exercise right of entry; procedures to seek reimbursement for common area damages; enforcement of use restrictions, including nuisance and commercial operations; and reduction of liability for holiday events.
Denise Iger, Esq., Iger Wankel & Bonkowski, LLP; Robert DeNichilo, Esq., Nordberg | DeNichilo, LLP

Getting the “Yes” Vote: A Case Study in Success!

Ocean Hills Country Club, a master association with 1,632 homes, obtained enough votes to approve their restated CC&Rs and bylaws in just three months! This case study explores the techniques used to gain membership participation and approval. Learn how to assemble the right team, find out how overcoming past challenges leads to future success, and the importance of member involvement. The outstanding effort made by this community to educate, communicate, and respond to their members is an example for every association!
Laurie S. Poole, Esq.,* Peters & Freedman, LLP; Becky Groenewold, AMS, PCAM, Keystone Pacific Property
Management, LLC, AAMC; Don Lopez, Ocean Hills Country Club

Eleven Years after SB 61: 11 Advanced Voting and Elections Issues

In 2006, the law regarding how elections and many member votes are conducted in associations changed. Even though we’ve been utilizing the “dual envelope secret ballot” system for 11 years, we still field questions about elections almost daily. Learn about 11 advanced issues and the ways that the issues could be addressed by election rules and amendments to bylaws.
Kelly G. Richardson, Esq.,* Richardson Harmon Ober, PC; Amy Tinetti, Esq., Hughes Gill Cochrane Tinetti, PC

How to Survive Getting Sued: A Manager’s Guide to Protecting the Association, Board, and Management

Associations, board members, managers, and management companies get sued—and the actions taken in the days and weeks that follow can have a dramatic financial, contractual, and political impact on all involved. This presentation provides experienced managers with a roadmap of considerations and actions to be taken in the days and weeks following the receipt of a summons and complaint.
Shanne Ho, PCAM, ProActive Professional Management; Patrick Prendiville, CIRMS, Prendiville Insurance Agency; Dirk Petchul, Esq., Berding | Weil, LLP

Is Your Wish My Command? Responding to Requests

In today’s information age, association members need to request and receive information instantly. Association managers and directors are challenged to discern which requests are legitimate and how best to respond to demands for information and documents. Learn how to categorize and respond to such inquiries as document requests; lender, escrow, and broker requests; requests for other information about owners; and requests for information about security concerns.
Melissa B. Ward, Esq., Hughes Gill Cochrane Tinetti, PC; Laura Ravazza, CMCA, Homeowners Management Co., LLC

Liability Exposure: How Boards Stay Protected

Board members in association-governed communities are responsible for maintaining, protecting, and enhancing association assets. A board’s power to act is provided in the association’s governing documents and their decisions are protected by the business judgment rule. Learn about board protections and review key areas where a board takes on significant liability exposure due to the most common things they don’t decide or do!
Jeffrey A. Beaumont, Esq.,* Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian; Robert Nordlund, PE, RS, Association Reserves, Inc.

Lights, Camera, Action: Film Licensing, Building Trademarks, and Intellectual Property Issues

Associations are subject to legal requirements when allowing motion pictures to be shown in common area facilities, when playing music in a clubhouse or lobby, when using other business’ logos and marks in association media, and when disclosing information of third parties that is not commonly known. Learn about core and nuanced intellectual property issues that will help association board members and managers make prudent business decisions relating to the associations they govern and manage.
Alex Noland, Esq.,* Noland Law PC; Tracy Neal, Esq., Beaumont Gitlin Tashjian

The NEW DFEH Regulations: How Are Associations Affected?

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is in the process of adopting fair housing regulations for the first time in California’s history. The new regulations will be a very important and critical part of the DFEH’s analysis and enforcement process for fair housing complaints and associations will be impacted greatly. Learn about the DFEH’s intentions and interpretations of the new regulations and what they mean for your community association.
Janet L.S. Powers, Esq.,* Fiore, Racobs & Powers, a PLC; Department of Fair Employment and Housing Representative (TBD)

Security in Associations

With the general uptick in crime, owners are requesting that association boards introduce measures to help prevent or discourage crimes and protect their association. Learn about security options and discussion surrounding the topic, like the association’s role in preventing crimes; benefits and liabilities for neighborhood watch programs; the value of security cameras and common concerns; security agreements; local government policing assistance for associations; and more.
Joanne A. Peña, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, Horizon Management Company; Steve Roseman, Esq., Roseman & Associates, APC

*College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL) fellow