CONDO BOARD TRIES TO GAME BYLAWS P2

Lesson for lawyers: Probably not a good idea to say it's all the judge's fault. And Starr tried to blame condo-board president Andrew Margulis, a lawyer himself, as well, saying Margulis was micromanaging. The court found no evidence of that, and in fact cited the last e-mail exchange between Margulis and Starr attorney Schieber, in which Schieber said Luzzi's counsel "has made all of my requested changes. I am signing and returning it to him — unless you have an issue." Margulis responded, "That's fine. I'll leave it to your judgment." As the court wrote, "[D]efendants' choice to blame Margulis and the Condominium for their own failings is unfortunate, to say the least."

Lessons for condo and co-op boards: Watch out for that word "permanently." And don't try to change the rules midstream, especially when doing so targets one homeowner specifically, unless there is seriously no other choice for the good of the condo or co-op. After all, and here's a new mantra to remember, there's more than one way to wash a window.

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