r/LegalAdvice I Bought a Farm & Now HOA President Demands I Pay "PAST DUES" For Violating HOA RULES!

Summary

This video delves into complex legal dilemmas faced by individuals, including a brother's struggle with a homeowners' association in Canada, a Florida Uber incident that escalated to a small claims lawsuit, and a heart-wrenching dog custody dispute in Arkansas. Each story unfolds with legal advice and community insights, highlighting the importance of documentation and the often unsatisfying outcomes of legal disputes.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The first story involves a brother in Ontario, Canada, who faces issues with a Homeowners Association (HOA) trying to enforce their rules on his pre-existing farm.
• 📜 The brother's farm was established in the late 1800s, while the HOA subdivision was built around 2010, implying he was not part of the HOA when it was formed.
• 💩 The HOA accuses the brother of creating a public nuisance by spreading manure on his fields and other activities, despite these being typical farm practices.
• 🚫 The brother is also accused of violating HOA rules by using a smoker, farm equipment, and an impact gun, which the HOA claims are disruptive to the community.
• 💰 The HOA president demands past dues and fines from the brother, which he refuses to pay without legal backing.
• 🐴 The brother has guard donkeys that protect his sheep, and there are concerns about potential liability if children from the subdivision interact with them.
• 📝 The brother consults a lawyer who advises him on how to handle the HOA's demands and suggests increasing insurance, adding warning signs, and improving fencing.
• 🏙️ The lawyer finds no official record of the HOA under the name provided by the president, suggesting it might be an unofficial group exerting undue influence.
• 🚗 The second story involves a person in Pensacola, Florida, who accidentally soils an Uber car and faces a lawsuit from the driver despite offering to pay for professional cleaning.
• 🐶 The third story is about a person in Arkansas who finds two dogs and faces legal complications when the alleged owner demands their return without proof of ownership.

Q & A

What is the main issue in the first story involving the brother and the HOA?

The main issue is that the brother's farm is being subjected to demands and fines from the HOA of a neighboring subdivision, despite the farm being established long before the HOA existed. The HOA claims the brother's farming practices are creating a public nuisance.

What was the brother's initial response to the HOA's demands?

The brother told the HOA president not to come back with papers demanding money unless he was with a lawyer or a cop to back him up on this, and he scheduled an appointment with a lawyer to discuss the matter.

What advice was given by a user in the comments regarding the brother's situation with the HOA?

The user advised that since the brother owns the land and did not incorporate his property into the HOA, the HOA can do nothing about his farm. They suggested having a lawyer write a cease and desist letter to stop the harassment.

What was the outcome of the brother's meeting with the lawyer?

The lawyer was helpful and reassured the brother that his farming practices were normal and he shouldn't worry about being sued. They also discussed measures to increase security for the donkeys guarding the sheep.

What action did the lawyer suggest the HOA president take if there were further issues?

The lawyer suggested that the HOA president should contact the lawyer, not the brother, if there were any further issues.

What was the second story about and what was the main issue?

The second story was about a person who accidentally soiled an Uber car and was being sued by the driver for the cost of cleaning and new car upholstery, despite already paying a cleaning fee and offering to have the car professionally cleaned.

What was the initial reaction of the Uber driver when the car was soiled?

The Uber driver initially told the person not to worry about it as long as they paid the cleaning fee.

What was the advice given by a user in the comments regarding the Uber incident?

The user advised reaching out to Uber, responding appropriately to the lawsuit, showing up to court, and possibly consulting with an attorney.

What was the outcome of the court case involving the Uber driver?

The judge ruled in favor of the person who had soiled the car, ordering the driver to pay the court costs.

What was the third story about and what was the main issue?

The third story was about a person who found two dogs, took care of them, and then had to deal with a claim of ownership from a person who could not provide proof of ownership, leading to police involvement.

What actions did the person take after finding the dogs?

The person scanned the dogs for microchips, posted about them on various platforms, took them to the vet for treatment and vaccinations, and eventually rehomed one of the dogs.

What was the final outcome of the situation with the found dogs?

The person was forced to give up both dogs under the threat of jail time, despite the original owner not providing any proof of ownership.

What advice was given by a user in the comments regarding the found dogs situation?

The user suggested double-checking the sergeant's identity, getting his patch number, and independently verifying with the department to ensure it wasn't the owner pretending to be the sergeant.