Center For California Homeowner Association Law MCLE - UC Davis

“Discrimination, Civil Rights, and Foreclosure Issues in California Homeowner Associations”

Saturday, June 13, 2009 – 9 AM TO NOON: UC DAVIS

Two MCLE credits are available for the June 13 workshop at UC Davis that will examine the question whether California’s 45,000 associations use foreclosure disproportionately against seniors, the disabled, and other persons protected by state and federal fair housing and civil rights laws. The Sacramento County Public Law Library is the MCLE provider.

California state law lets association boards foreclose – just like banks – when a homeowner falls behind on paying assessments. Workshop speakers Michael L. Johnson, Esq. and fair housing expert Steve Cogswell will closely examine the case of David D., a disabled homeowner, whose association tried to foreclose on his home in order to force the payment of assessments. His pro bono attorney, Mr. Johnson, stopped the foreclosure. Marjorie Murray, now president of the Center for California Homeowner Association Law, organized the defense team. Mr. Johnson later sued the association, its lawyers, and the HOA board directors as individuals in federal court. The workshop will examine the suit filed in the United States District Court Eastern District.

The training will be geared toward members of the legal community new to the association foreclosure and its nexus with fair housing, civil rights, and discrimination issues. Mr. Johnson will emphasize his own experiences representing a pro bono client for the first time in this area of the law. He will also put the association foreclosure in the broader context of the current California foreclosure crisis.

LOCATION: University of California, Davis Extension, 1333 Research Park Drive, Davis, just off the 80 freeway. Phone: 530.757.8732.

TIME: Check-in and coffee/light breakfast from 8:15 to 8:50. Workshop from 9-noon. More details at: http://www.calhomelaw.org/

REGISTRATION: available online, by mail/phone/fax. Pre-registration required. Admission: $10 for CCHAL Contributing Members, $20 for the public; $30 for participants who want to register for the workshop and also become a CCHAL Contributing Member. Fee waivers available.

QUESTIONS? Call the CCHAL office (510.272.9826) and ask for Suzzanna or email smatthews@calhomelaw.org

This foreclosure defense workshop has been made possible through the support of the California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown and the van Loben Sels/Rembe Rock Foundation