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of BETH A. GRIMM
BUSINESS: Beth A. Grimm, A Professional Law Corporation (SINCE 1995)
LEGAL EDUCATION: 1988 J.D., J.F.K. SCHOOL OF LAW, PH, CA
 LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE I have spoken at public hearings many times about CID issues and served on specially appointed committees dealing with Homeowner Association issues at the request of legislators and aides including Assemblyman Thomas Hauser, Robyn-Boyer Stewart, and Assemblywoman Barbara Lee and been serving on the Executive Committee of the California Legislative Action Committee since 1988. Relevant Expertise: Besides the legal education listed above, I passed all courses required for the "Professional Community Association Manager" through Community Associations Institute (CAI), a national industry group serving associations and owners throughout the country, with 10 local California chapters, to learn the "nuts and bolts" of the industry. I represent community associations in the areas of document updating and enforcement; elections, meetings, recall; formulation of policies, practices and procedures; construction and other contracts, service providers and managers; employment matters; legal disclosure requirements; architectural standards and review; and disputes that arise between association members, board members, neighbors, contractors, and residents, including the conduct of hearings, violation letters, and recommendations for action. I have advised associations in all aspects of insurance matters and disputes, and in considering and obtaining insurance coverage. I am able to interpret CC&Rs (Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) and am familiar with various forms of disputes over common area and exclusive use common area, and the definitions of Condominiums vs. Planned Developments. I have represented concerned homeowners in disputes with associations, interpretation of governing documents, communicating with boards, recall efforts, inspection of records and enforcement hearings. I have conducted litigation, mediations and negotiations in various aspects of community association matters, for associations and for homeowners, including organized groups of homeowners. I have extensive mediation training and experience. Participation in Service Organizations/Volunteer Service: Besides the usual aspects of legal representation for associations, I have been serving as a member of the Community Associations Institute-California Legislative Action Committee (CLAC) since 1988. This is a statewide group of industry professionals immersed in legislative issues and proposed laws that affect community associations. I have served on the executive committee for that group for 10 years and served as the Statewide Public Relations Chairperson for more than 15 years. I also served as a volunteer mediator for Contra Costa County Conflict Resolution Services and for the EASE (Early Attempt at Settlement) Program in the Contra Costa County Courts for more than 5 years. Industry Group Affiliations: I am a member of the National Community Associations Institute (CAI) - College of Community Association Lawyers and a member of the Distinguished Speakers' Club of CAI and have spoken at several national seminars. I authored THE CLAC CORNER - a periodic update of "what's happening in Sacramento", the BILL OF THE MONTH alerts, and assist with the grassroots fax tree for CAI-CLAC for more than 10 years, resigning last year due to time constraints. I still serve on CLAC. I served as the East Bay Resource Chairperson for ECHO (Executive Council of Homeowners) for 3 years, a more localized industry group serving associations and homeowners in the Bay Area and throughout the state. I also serve on the Legal Resource Committee of ECHO and have been for more than 8 years. I have authored numerous state and national publications for the CAI and THE ECHO JOURNAL for ECHO. I belong to and participate in activities of the California Association of Community Association Managers (CACM) as well. These are the 3 major industry groups for homeowner associations in this state. Speaking and Authoring Expertise: I have conducted my own individual seminars and assisted with many industry group seminars as a speaker and participant. For more than 20 years, I authored and distributed (statewide and to some recipients outside the state) a newsletter detailing the nuts and bolts and legal aspects of running a community association in California called THE CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION LEGAL DIGEST which has been replaced by a free E-newsletter informing recipients of the hottest HOA issues. I authored a book translating the Common Interest Development Statutes into layperson's language called THE DAVIS-STIRLING ACT IN PLAIN ENGLISH, co-authored a book entitled FINDING THE KEY TO YOUR CASTLE, and authored a national condominium help book entitled THE CONDO OWNERS ANSWER BOOK, published by Sphinx Publishing. In 2008, several Primers and Guides were added to the list of publications available as educational tools, and I will adding to the Primers in 2009. I write and speak frequently for the various CID industry groups and before realtors groups to bring relevant information to owners, realtors, homeowners, managers and board members. My writings are enjoyed by many others as well. Both books and the newsletter articles have been reproduced often in pertinent part and have been well received in the industry as helpful tools.
 Teaching I am certified to teach a class called: "The Davis Stirling Act in Plain English" for 8 hours of DRE continuing education credit. I also have monthly Brown Bag Lunch and Legal-EEZE programs at the teaching center where my office is located. I am in the process of setting up an HOA "University" to offer web-based training for board members, managers, homeowners, realtors and others needing education about HOAs and the law. I have hosted a weekly, free, HOA Chat on the web and by telephone conference to teach people about the Davis Stirling Act. TRAINING/EXPERIENCE AS A MEDIATOR
Past Volunteer CRP Community Based Mediations, Contra Costa County Bar Assn. Court Mediations I have extensive experience as a mediator and as an advocate in mediation. I have been a volunteer mediator for the Conflicts Resolution Panel of Contra Costa for more than five years. Within that group I believe my reputation is outstanding. Some of the mediations have been large group mediations involving vehement neighborhood disputes. All mediations in which I have served with that group have come to successful resolution by agreements of the parties. In addition, I have done other mediations within my field of law through referrals. I also volunteered with the courts EASE program (a form of mediation) and served on my local Bar Association ADR Committee for several years. In addition, as an attorney in community association law, I have participated in many mediations as a mediator and/or as an advocate and find myself often more skilled in the facilitation of agreement facets than the mediators who are not familiar with CID law. LEVEL OF KNOWLEGE AND UNDERSTANDING I believe my knowledge of community association practices, theory, process and technique is more extensive than most because of the many aspects of law, management, board and member issues, negotiations and dispute resolution in which I have participated, and the many forms of communication via which I have provided service to the industry. My communication skills and techniques are above average. I am a respected author in my field of law; I teach at many seminars, and work on various committees coming into contact with numerous people from all walks of life. I brainstorm solutions to problems with experts in all areas of community association operations, including management and legal, throughout the State. I also have assisted with "watch-dogging" California legislation for and against legislation involving the community associations industry and homeowner association practices. There have been numerous bills with various ramifications introduced and stopped or passed in the last 19 years I have been serving on CLAC. I have attending many California Law Revision Hearings dealing with HOA issues in the law.
AWARDS - RECOGNITION
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Community Association Attorney, Mediator, Speaker and Author