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Published by Plain-English Media, LLC
Home | David C. Swedelson

David C. Swedelson, Esq.

Swedelson & Gottlieb
11900 West Olympic Boulevard Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Tel: (310) 207-2207

Mr. Swedelson has contributed his expert opinion and experience to the HOAleader.com articles below.


HOA Leadership Roles and Duties: A Guide to the Positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Board Member in Condo and Homeowners Associations
We're hearing from a growing number of association members who want more detail about their responsibilities--or who want an easy way to educate their newly elected fellow board members about what, exactly, board members do. What's the president supposed to do? How about the vice president, secretary, and treasurer? . . . keep reading
HOA Policies: Do You Have Today's Must-have Policies?
June 2009
Attorneys who specialize in representing associations say there are some policies your association can't go without. Here are just a few. . . . keep reading
Sample HOA Deductible Policy
June 2009
Here's an example of wording in a deductible policy. Before adopting similar language, be sure to run it by your attorney to ensure it complies with your state law and your governing documents. . . . keep reading
HOA Board Member Orientation: Help New Board Members Hit the Ground Running
June 2009
Here's what to cover in your new-board member orientation. . . . keep reading
HOA Rules: Smart Rules for Home-based Businesses
May 2009
In today's economy, more and more laid off workers may turn entrepreneurial, using home-based businesses to make ends meet. That may be bad news for your condo or homeowners association if tensions rise over home-based businesses that make your quiet neighborhood seem more like a commercial strip. Here's what you must know about home-based businesses to ensure they don't change the character of your community. . . . keep reading
HOA Facilities: When Common Areas Become Storage Areas
May 2009
Bikes. Golf clubs. Grills. Couches. Boxes, boxes, and more boxes. Those are just some of the things that can begin to accumulate in your common areas when owners consider common areas fair game for storing the things that don't fit into their units or assigned storage areas. Aside from the fact that your common areas can begin to look like junkyards, accumulating clutter can become a fire hazard. What's an association to do? . . . keep reading
HOA Fees: Can Your Association Raise Money By Adding Fees?
May 2009
When governments run short on cash, they get creative. Rather than face the wrath of the citizens by overtly raising taxes, they add a fee here and assess a fine there. Can your association take the same approach to raising cash by adopting fees that will fill your association's coffers? Here, we discuss the pros and cons of a fee-based revenue plan. . . . keep reading
HOA Landscaping: Can Your Homeowners Association Outlaw Vegetable Gardens? Should You?
May 2009
If owners want to plant vegetable gardens to save money, can you stop them? Probably. Should you? That's a different issue. . . . keep reading
HOA Finances: Can Your Homeowners Association Donate Funds to Charitable or Civic Causes?
May 2009
If your condo or homeowners association has been asked to donate to charitable or civic causes, make sure you understand your state's law and your governing documents before throwing a few of your HOA's dollars onto the donation plate. . . . keep reading
HOA Reserve Funds: The Pros and Cons of Underfunding Reserves
April 2009
Some boards stop funding--or underfund--their homeowners association reserves as a way to easy the burden on homeowners during difficult economic times. Is this a smart move for your HOA? . . . keep reading
HOA Meeting Minutes: How To Create Trouble For Your Condo or Homeowners Association in Less Than 60 Seconds
April 24, 2009
This week's tip comes from a new article on how to avoid creating trouble for yourself with your HOA meeting minutes. "Minutes are a . . . keep reading
HOA Meeting Minutes: When Does Added Detail Become TMI?
April 2009
Do meeting minutes need to be transcription-like, recording every utterance made during association meetings? Or is that TMI--too much information? Or is it better for minutes to be a simple summary of the major actions taken at homeowners association meetings? Here's your answer. . . . keep reading
HOA Insurance Mistakes: Steer Your Homeowners Association Clear of These Insurance Pitfalls
April 2009
One simple mistake can become costly when it involves insurance. You could end up overpaying for coverage you don't need--and who has extra money to throw away in this economy? Or you could learn that you don't have the coverage you thought you did when faced with a costly repair. Here, experts identify the mistakes associations can make when it comes to insurance and offer tips for avoiding the missteps. . . . keep reading
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