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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>Rob,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>I must respectfully disagree with you. I think that the decision was correct. Unless the governing documents set up a mandatory membership organization <i>ab initio</i> I think that all you have is a covenant running with the land that is enforceable by any of the individual lot owners. I do not think that you can bootstrap your way into such an entity after the fact, particularly when the covenant does not set up a method for amendment with less than 100%. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>RCW 64,38 was not a well considered piece of legislation. It was cobbled together by Ralph Munro in response to all of the complaints that the Secretary of State’s office was getting from disgruntled homeowners. It was never reviewed by the Bar or the WCA Task Force. It clearly needs some amendments since WCIOA appears to be a dead issue in this State.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'>Jim<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:39.25pt'><td width=393 valign=top style='width:294.45pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-bottom:none;border-right:none;padding:5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt;height:39.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jim Strichartz</span></b><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><i><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Fellow, College of Community Association Lawyers</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=299 valign=top style='width:224.3pt;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-left:none;border-bottom:none;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt;height:39.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:right;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Law Offices of James L. Strichartz</span></b><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:right;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>201 Queen Anne Avenue North, Suite 400</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-top:2.0pt;text-align:right;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Seattle, WA 98109-4824</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=393 valign=bottom style='width:294.45pt;border-top:none;border-left:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:none;padding:5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:2.0pt;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto://jim@condo-lawyers.com/"><span style='color:#2E4171'>jim@condo-lawyers.com </span></a></span><u><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#2E4171'><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:2.0pt;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.condo-lawyers.com/"><span style='color:#2E4171'>http://www.condo-lawyers.com</span></a> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:2.0pt;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/condolawyer" target=nw><span style='color:#2E4171'>http://www.linkedin.com/in/condolawyer</span></a></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=299 valign=bottom style='width:224.3pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-bottom:2.0pt;text-align:right;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>tel: 206-388-0600</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:2.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:2.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:right;line-height:9.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>fax: 206-286-2666</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:15.25pt'><td width=692 colspan=2 style='width:518.75pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#2E4171;padding:5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt;height:15.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:right'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:white'>Providing Tools for Successful Communities</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:40.5pt'><td width=692 colspan=2 style='width:518.75pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt 5.75pt;height:40.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>This message is intended only for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, or the agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, and you are requested to please notify us immediately by telephone, and return the original message to us at the above address. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of this firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it. Although this message and any attachments are believed to be free of any virus or other defect that might affect any computer system into which it is received and opened, it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that it is virus free, and no responsibility is accepted by this firm for any loss or damage in any way from its use.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Rob Wilson-Hoss<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 09, 2016 11:32 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'WSBA Real Property Listserv'<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] new case HOA statute<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Thanks, Eric. There are problems with the position that governing documents have to specify or refer to an association. First, as to current members and new members, as soon as they participate, vote, pay assessments, and so on, then they will ratify. But this leaves a mess, because some will not have ratified, in theory. So, some in, some out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Then, you have the problem of unjust enrichment, see the end of Lake Limerick v. Hunt, 120 Wash App 246. Everyone has to pay. If everyone has to pay, then how do you administer the payments (or the work) without an association, some mechanism to take actions?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As to what an unincorporated association is, the Supreme Court in Riss v. Angel spent a bunch of time talking around that issue, and the result is sort of like a partnership, for the purposes of that decision. Of course, there, there were documents. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>I just don't think courts take HOA cases seriously, and I am not the only one. Walsh v. Halme can't actually get to where they went - something more than just an unincorporated association. That's just plain invented by the court and of no use to practitioners. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>I agree, the issue for the HOA statute is what an unincorporated association is, or at least, that's one of the issues. I disagree that groups that work together to enforce a one-page set of covenants have, commonly, bylaws and other operating rules. Many do, but I know of a great many that do not, including in particular small road maintenance and water associations. And again, I disagree that governing documents have to specify an association; the definition in the statute does not make that a requirement. Just that they have to pay. That's the point of that statute - to avoid the need to have the association provided for in the governing documents. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Thanks for the reference to 1.16.080. Also look at CR 23.2 and the cases construing it. One of the comments refers to the lack of any definition of unincorporated association, for class action purposes. At least that's consistent....<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Rob<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Robert D. Wilson-Hoss <br>Hoss & Wilson-Hoss, LLP <br>236 West Birch Street <br>Shelton, WA 98584 <br>360 426-2999<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a href="www.hossandwilsonhoss.com">www.hossandwilson-hoss.com</a><br><a href="mailto:rob@hctc.com">rob@hctc.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This message is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee, you are hereby notified that any use, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify us by reply e-mail or by telephone (call us collect at the number listed above) and immediately delete this message and any and all of its attachments. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-transform:uppercase'>This office does debt collection and this e-mail may be an attempt to collect a debt, Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. </span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>To the extent the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 1692) applies this firm is acting as a debt collector for the condominium/homeowners' association named above to collect a debt owed to it. Any information obtained will be used for collection purposes. You have the right to seek advice of legal counsel.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Nelsen<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 09, 2016 10:46 AM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] new case HOA statute<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Rob, if you're ready to write the Bar Bulletin article on HOAs and covenants, I promise I'll read it!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I just read <u>Walsh v. Halme</u> and I think the "what is an association" section is a bit, well, inartful. But then, so is the statute, since the legislature clearly didn't think too hard about what constitutes a legal entity and what doesn't, before writing something like "a corporation, unincorporated association, or other legal entity." Which is kind of like saying, "a table, a fruitcake, or other item of furniture." But then, see <a href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=1.16&full=true#1.16.080">RCW 1.16.080</a>, which says that "unincorporated association" in a statute can also include LLCs. Go figure--so an LLC can be a fruitcake for purposes of statutory construction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Regardless of the HOA statute, I think the case comes down to: What does it take to form an unincorporated association? I think that your example of long-established groups of people working to collectively enforce a one-line covenant can still qualify as an unincorporated association, because I highly doubt that such a group does not have a set of bylaws and rules for elections of officers, etc. such that <u>those</u> are the formative documents for the Association, not the one-line covenant that the Association enforces. It is just in the nature of the beast – any group of more than three people that tries to organize collectively ends up establishing a set of governance rules in order to prevent the chaos of total democracy, and get everyone's buy-in that decisions can be made by majority rather than unanimity. And I don't think the governing documents have to be recorded; they just have to exist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I think the problem in <u>Walsh v. Halme</u> is not that Walsh et al. didn't form an Association--they did. But they only did it for themselves, for their own properties, and because Halme didn't participate and didn't consent, he is not a member of the Association and he and his property are not subject to its jurisdiction. The other term I see in case law for "unincorporated associations" is "voluntary associations," which I think makes the point. One can voluntarily join a group, or voluntarily purchase a property under a covenant that says ownership of the property constitutes membership in a group, but the point is that it's voluntary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>By the way, I do think that HOAs have questionable authority when formed independent of recorded covenants--that is, the covenant being enforced does not impose membership in an association for the burdened/benefitted properties. If membership in the HOA does not travel with the land, then on any transfer the new owner can elect not to join the HOA. But that doesn't mean the covenant is unenforceable; it just means that a non-consenting party will have to be sued for a covenant violation, and the court will determine for itself whether the covenant has been violated, rather than reviewing the <u>HOA's</u> determination that the covenant was violated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>1320 University St<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Seattle WA 98101-2837<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Rob Wilson-Hoss<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 08, 2016 11:40 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'WSBA Real Property Listserv'<br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] new case HOA statute<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Interesting new published Div. II case about what a HOA is, Walsh v. Halme, out today. The statute at issue is 64.38.005(11), which defines homeowners' associations:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>RCW 64.38.010(11) defines a “homeowners’ association” as a corporation, unincorporated association, or other legal entity, each member of which is an owner of residential real property located within the association's jurisdiction, as described in the governing documents, and by virtue of membership or ownership of property is obligated to pay real property taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance costs, or for improvement of real property other than that which is owned by the member.<span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>and the precise point is, what means the first part of this - "a corporation, unincorporated association, or other legal entity?" Some questionable analysis leads to the conclusion that the recorded documents must refer to some sort of entity other than the owners themselves, that is something more than your run-of-the-mill unincorporated association: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>The HAA does not define “unincorporated association” or “legal entity,” and no Washington case addresses the meaning of these terms in the homeowners’ association context. Use of the word “other” before “legal entity” suggests that “unincorporated association” as used in RCW 64.38.010(11) must be a “legal entity.” However, unincorporated associations generally are not legal entities. Newport Yacht Basin Ass’n of Condo. Owners v. Supreme Nw., Inc., 168 Wn. App. 56, 74, 277 P.3d 18 (2012). Therefore, RCW 64.38.010(11) seems to require something more than a “typical” unincorporated association.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>According to the court, when the statute says "unincorporated association," that is modified by "<b>other</b> legal entity," so the governing documents actually have to refer to something more than a typical unincorporated association, whatever that is. Age has its privileges; mine includes the privilege to say, no, that is not what the Legislature meant, and this is statutory interpretation of the most outcome-based sort. If the court were right, and "other legal entity" modified unincorporated association, then the only unincorporated associations that would count would be legal entities, which by definintion they are not. Oops. The court no doubt recognized this when it said that the statute "seems to require something more than a 'typical' association." So it went ahead and helped the Legislature out by providing its own rule. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>At any rate, the analysis then goes on to a discussion of what a typical unincorporated association is; it never gets to a discussion of what something more than a typical unincorporated association might be. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Regardless, the result is that any HOA is at risk of challenge if its governing documents do not refer in some unspecified way to some sort of unspecified category of association of members. And that includes a whole lot (at least hundreds if not thousands) of very long-established and successful HOAs with that one-page set of minimal restrictive covenants that many were using in the 1960s; you know, the ones that include, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>No noxious or offensive activity shall be carried on upon said Tract or any part thereof, nor shall anything be done or maintained thereon which may be or become an annoyance or nuisance to the neighborhood.<span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Look, this is a serious issue and always has been, since the HOAA was adopted. Does it really apply all of the HOAA rules to small water or road maintenance associations? But the answer to the issue, politically, is to find a way to amend the statute to aim the HOAA rules to actual HOAs and not impose a bunch of silly requirements or powers on small associations that don't have or want rules about structure or behavior limitations. Here, according to this court, the answer is to interpret the statute to require that the governing documents include some reference to something more than a typical unincorporated association. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Right now, this is simply a statutory interpretation issue - what does "unincorporated association" mean in this context? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As for me, I don't think "other legal entity" defines or limits "unincorporated association," citing to Homer Simpson ("duh") (what did you want the Legislature to say, "unincorporated association, or other entity that has some legal status in addition to unincorporated and incorporated associations?") (and how can "<b>other </b>legal entity" apply to an unincorporated association that is by definition not a legal entity?); and I think this term, "unincorporated association," is meant to include an association of people. If we read the dictionary definitions of "association" in Google we can find one to suit every need and taste, including, "a connection or relationship between things or people," and a"group of persons banded together for a specific purpose." Road maintenance agreements and water agreements qualify under these definitions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Finally, if anyone thinks that this opens the door to water or road maintenance associations starting to control the color palette for front doors, please remember the limitations of Wilkinson v. Chiwawa: is it already a covenant? (can't add new ones unless the old ones say you can specifically); can't add additional burdens; must be consistent with the general scheme of the development. Etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Your obedient servant,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Rob<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Robert D. Wilson-Hoss <br>Hoss & Wilson-Hoss, LLP <br>236 West Birch Street <br>Shelton, WA 98584 <br>360 426-2999<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><a href="www.hossandwilsonhoss.com">www.hossandwilson-hoss.com</a><br><a href="mailto:rob@hctc.com">rob@hctc.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This message is intended solely for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the addressee, you are hereby notified that any use, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify us by reply e-mail or by telephone (call us collect at the number listed above) and immediately delete this message and any and all of its attachments. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";text-transform:uppercase'>This office does debt collection and this e-mail may be an attempt to collect a debt, Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. </span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>To the extent the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 1692) applies this firm is acting as a debt collector for the condominium/homeowners' association named above to collect a debt owed to it. Any information obtained will be used for collection purposes. You have the right to seek advice of legal counsel.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>