“Community” is the foundation behind Kaman & Cusimano, LLC Attorneys at Law – an Ohio-based firm focusing on condominium and homeowner association law. “We don’t represent developers, owners, contractors, management companies, banks or tenants,” Joseph (Jay) Cusimano, partner, told “The Suit.” “We only represent community associations.”

Every case the firm takes on begins with practical considerations of potential outcome and its effect on the community. “We recognize that we don’t just represent clients,” explained Cusimano, who was included this year in the 20th edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” for real estate attorneys.

“We represent entire communities. Every association is first and foremost a community. A primary goal and responsibility of ours is to keep our community association clients out of legal trouble. So, we are big on providing education for board members in order to prevent problems. And, we also keep the lines of communication open at all times,” Cusimano said.

Homeowners associations (HOAs) are formal legal entities created to maintain common areas. Membership is mandatory for all property owners within a development and mandatory fees are the norm. HOAs are corporations with formal bylaws, and there is typically a governing board which hires a property management company to handle maintenance and a variety of enforcement issues. It’s a big industry which continues to get bigger.

Indeed, according to the Community Associations Institute, about 50 million Americans live in association-governed communities. Approximately 1.25 million people serve on community association boards and another 300,000-plus serve as community members. Some 6,000-8,000 new community associations are formed every year. The estimated real estate value of the homes in all community associations amounts to more than $2 trillion or roughly 15 percent of the value of all U.S. residential real estate. The estimated annual operating revenue for these associations is $30-$35 billion.

Amid this rapidly growing industry, comes a growing number of disputes, running the gamut from smoking on the premises, to pet ownership, to laundry lines, to decorative gnomes (or flamingos). “These disputes, no matter how trivial they may seem to some on the outside, are important to those impacted by the matter and for that reason can be very costly. While we recognize that every person has a say, we also know that not every case has merit. We know every side of the issue; not just the law, but the practical considerations as well. That’s invaluable to all of our clients,” Cusimano detailed.

The firm’s aim is not just to help clients avoid litigation. It’s to make sure neighborhoods are running smoothly and amicably. “When people are happy where they live, they come together and embrace their unity. Everyone benefits and it promotes property values,” Cusimano said. 

To be sure, the very name “community” sounds like the words “come” and “unity.” And getting everyone to come together in unity is Kaman & Cusimano's goal.

For more information, visit: www.ohiocondolaw.com