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The Dakota, a historic co-op on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, won their case — spending $2.4 million in legal fees defending themselves against a shareholder’s charge of discrimination. And then the court said they couldn’t collect a dime in legal fees.

William McCracken, partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff, walks through this head-spinning case, explaining how a seemingly minor amendment to the building's proprietary lease unraveled everything. McCracken reveals which buildings might face the same problem and what boards should be asking their attorneys right now. It's a cautionary tale about the hidden risks lurking in legal documents that seemed perfectly fine for decades. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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Co-op and condo boards often move too quickly when hiring contractors, which can lead to problems later on. Contractor-written proposals can lack board protections like indemnification and the ability to recover attorney's fees. Signing these inadequate contracts can leave a board trapped with a contractor doing subpar work — or just not showing up. In this episode, J. David Eldridge, partner at Taylor Eldridge & Endres, walks through how this can happen, and what it could cost your building to escape. He reveals the warning signs boards miss and why even routine renewals deserve careful scrutiny. If you've ever wondered whether spending money on legal review is worth it, Eldridge’s real-world examples make the case crystal clear. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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A condo board let an arrears situation drag on for years, convinced they had no chance of recovering delinquent common charges against an owner with massive tax and mortgage debts. They were wrong. Eric Goldberg, partner at Kahn & Goldberg, reveals how a stroke of luck involving a 60-day window between the board and the IRS filing liens completely changed their outcome. Goldberg shares the details. Condo foreclosures are high-stakes — and timing can mean the difference between recovering everything and losing it all. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!