It depends.
Owners generally have the right to see attorney invoices. However, when an invoice pertains to attorney-client privileged information, the council should review them and redact any privileged information.
It is generally advised that community associations inform owners requesting access to the association’s counsel’s invoices that if they wish to review the content of legal invoices, instead of just the amounts billed, the invoices must first be reviewed by the council so privileged information can be redacted.
The association should not make the determination as to what is or is not subject to the attorney-client privilege or attempt to undertake the redaction on their own without the advice of counsel. The cost to review and redact the invoices should be charged to the requesting unit owner.
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When it comes to condo board elections, owners have the right to vote in person or to submit a signed "proxy." A proxy allows another individual to vote on their behalf if they are unable to attend the election meeting. Candidates running for election can solicit proxies from owners in efforts to garner the votes they need to be voted onto the board.
Although proxies may not be ideal, they are not unethical. It is often necessary within condominium living to meet quorum requirements. This means that a certain percentage of owners must participate in a vote in person or by proxy for the vote to be considered valid. Meeting with fellow owners and trying to get their vote is the same way politics work on a national, state, and local scale. As long as candidates are given equal opportunity to solicit votes, it is ethical and democratic.
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Condominium associations in Illinois are required by law to carry property insurance that covers the common elements of the property. Unit owners are responsible for insuring their units. When there is damage to a unit or the common elements, however, there is often a lot of confusion regarding who is responsible and how a claim should be handled.
Here are a few basic tips regarding insurance and insurance claims in condo buildings in Illinois:
Handling insurance claims can be complicated. Coverage will be dictated by your association's Declaration and by your existing insurance policy.
Two Chicago aldermen want to reverse a state law that makes condo owners’ personal information more widely available to fellow association members, including owners’ names, addresses, email, phone number, and weighted votes in Chicago condo buildings and complexes. This state law kicked in at the beginning of this year and requires more owner data to be turned over to any association member who requests it. The alderman’s proposal would go along with many other provisions in the newly modified state condo law.
Condo associations in Chicago could choose to opt out of the rules requiring disclosure or make all names, addresses, and other related data available if two-thirds of owners approve.
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