‘This is all your fault’: HOA fines residents $63,000 after fire sprinkler goes off, despite building staff's incompetence

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  • 01
    Font - Posted by u/API-ok 21 hours ago HOA assessed us $63k for damages that our insurance says we didn't do I am in Brooklyn, NY. A fire sprinkler in our condo went off causing $63k in damages
  • 02
    Font - to the common area of the building. The damages are also as high because the building staff didn't know how and where to turn off the water for 15 minutes although we notified them within 30 seconds. If they acted faster most if not all damages could have been
  • 03
    Font - prevented. This happened while a task rabbit person was in the room. Task rabbit and the contractor claim no work was done and don't take responsibility. The building claims that the contractor used a saw to cut into the
  • 04
    Font - ceiling which triggered the sprinkler to go off - which I know for a fact is not true. My insurance did an investigation and denied the claim on the basis that it was not our fault.
  • 05
    Font - In response to that the HOA sent me a letter that they disagree with my insurance's investigation and assessed me the $63k to my HOA. The insurance's adjuster says we shouldn't pay and wait for the building to sue us in which case the insurance will
  • 06
    Font - provide an attorney to defend us. While it is somewhat comforting that the insurance will provide legal counseling, lawsuits are expensive and lengthy and $63k can easily become $120k and more and you never know what the
  • 07
    Font - outcome is. After all there was a task rabbit person in the building. Yes, I can then sue task rabbit... but that's more legal fees. I just want this to go away and live in harmony (I don't want to F the HOA either, after all they are our neighbors), so I offered the building a settlement of $25k
  • 08
    Font - without admission of guilt which they denied. What are my options?
  • 09
    Font - proper1420 20 hr. ago What will most likely happen is that the HOA will bring suit against you and the TaskRabbit contractor, your homeowners carrier will hire/pay for a lawyer to defend you, and the contractor's carrier will do
  • 10
    Font - the same for their insured (assuming they're insured). There doesn't look to be any risk for you given that even the HOA is taking the position that it was your contractor that caused the damage, not you. The HOA's own negligence in
  • 11
    Font - exacerbating the damage by not shutting off the water in a reasonable amount of time will also be sorted out. I think you're good. 340 Reply Share
  • 12
    Font - tardisious 18 hr. ago wondering if they don't need to file a suit. they can just assess and put a lien and foreclose? this would avoid the insurance co providing legal help?
  • 13
    Font - marcocanb 17 hr. ago Then they can sue the HOA with insurance companies lawyers. 56 Reply Share
  • 14
    Font - Yesbuttt 20 hr. ago HOA President/Board/Archite... Bruh. Don't pay them a cent. If you get sued and your insurance covers the lawyer and if you loose liability that's literally what it's for. I had a tree fall on a
  • 15
    Font - neighbor's car and that would probably total it. They ended up trying to get money from me/insurance since they didn't have comprehensive on their car and guess what, insurance said nope act of god. Reply Share 487
  • 16
    Font - Retired Yng 19 hr. ago Think of it this way.... An investigation was done by a professional that does this everyday for who knows how many years. I'm sure a complete report was sent to the HOA. If the decide to continue it's on them and
  • 17
    Font - out of your hands. You should make sure you go to the next meeting and make sure the other residents hear your side and see what kind of idiots are running the place!!!!
  • 18
    Font - Tyl3rt 19 hr. ago Do not offer to settle with them. If you settle and your insurance denied the claim you're on the hook for that personally. When you sign a contract for insurance they have the only right to settle
  • 19
    Font - or defend the claim. Listen to your adjuster and wait to see if they sue and let the insurance company handle it. 26 Reply Share
  • 20
    Font - On epicenter69 22 hr. ago Your $25k offer is suspicious, and will probably be noted in a lawsuit. If you did nothing wrong, why make a settlement offer? Let your insurance company handle this one.
  • 21
    Font - Donald Trurnp 17 hr. ago Even a completed settlement without admission of guilt wouldn't be admissible. 12 Reply Share
  • 22
    Font - stylusxyz 20 hr. ago You don't need to sue anybody.....yet. Have a chat with your property manager and explain the insurance companies position. See what the HOA deductible is for their damaged common area. Discuss that
  • 23
    Font - amount with your insurance company. Maybe they will make a deal there, or cover the amount and subrogate back to the 'task rabbit'. (that should be insured anyway.) In any event, your HOA is almost NEVER insured for legal
  • 24
    Font - expenses if they sue somebody. They are usually ONLY insured for defensive legal expenses if they get sued. I was an association president in a previous life. We dealt with this situation all the time. The manager or HOA Board is being
  • 25
    Font - unreasonable. They are testing you. Don't sue anybody. Sit tight and gather information. At some point, the cooler insurance heads will prevail. 9 Reply Share

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