Massive Fraud in Construction Defect Litigation in Nevada?

FROM NEVADA, a story of massive alleged fraud involving construction defect litigation, steering jobs to "preferred" contractors, law firms in cahoots with the management company...all brought about by a raid by the FBI.

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Federal and local law enforcement officers raided nine sites around the valley on Wednesday in a sweeping probe into possible collusion between homeowners associations and businesses benefitting from construction defect lawsuits.

The raids are part of a "pending public corruption case," according to Federal Bureau of Investigation spokesman Dave Staretz, who refused to release details. He said no arrests were made.

According to a law enforcement source, the FBI is investigating whether individuals were placed on homeowners association boards who, in turn, would direct business stemming from construction defect lawsuits to select companies.

At issue, according to the source, is whether HOA members were steering contracts to certain construction companies.

Other sources said there has long been speculation that some HOA representatives were hiring certain law firms to handle construction defect lawsuits in exchange for kickbacks.

State Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, a lawmaker who has been involved in homeowners association issues before the Legislature, said the speculation involved management companies steering construction defect business to law firms in exchange for kickbacks.

One of the companies raided Wednesday by FBI agents and Las Vegas police was a business in an industrial area near the Palms owned by Leon Benzer, who is involved in a variety of businesses.

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New Mexico Gets a CAI Chapter

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Sept 08, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Thousands of New Mexicans who live and work in homeowner and condominium associations now have a statewide organization dedicated to issues and challenges faced by these common-interest communities.

Community association leaders in New Mexico have established a chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI), a national, nonprofit group that works on behalf of associations and their residents. The New Mexico chapter will be headquartered in Albuquerque. The national organization is headquartered in Alexandria, VA.

CAI estimates that 60 million Americans live in close to 300,000 associations nationwide.

Dozens of community association leaders in New Mexico have been involved in the effort to establish the new organization.

"The community association housing market in New Mexico has grown tremendously in recent years," said Kimberly Corcoran, CMCA, AMS, vice president of operations for Canyon Gate Real Estate Services in Albuquerque and one of the industry leaders responsible for creation of the new CAI chapter. "The formation of a local CAI chapter is evidence of that growth and demonstrates the commitment of local companies to provide professional and reputable services to homeowners.

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Waterproofdeckcoatingadvice.com makes it's trade show debut at CAI Channel Island's

It was a beautiful day on Friday as the Board members and HOA managers who belong to the Channel Islands Chapter of CAI poured into the exhibit area at the Hyatt in Westlake Village.

Our debut was received warmly by the many managers and Board members who wanted to know what the heck it is we do...

and we showed them, with our hands on display of actual deck coating samples and a model of a deck showing the steps necessary to flash and waterproof a deck properly. (Thanks to West Coast Waterproofing of Paramount for loaning us their model).

Attendees also found out that we offer inspections, bid analysis, consulting and seminars as well.

Over 200 persons attended the show, the culmination of a year of planning by Channel Islands Executive Director(s) Krisi Davis and Leah Ross, who took over as Executive Director in August, with the support and help of the Annual Trade Show Committee.