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Disabled Resident’s Abusive Conduct Violates Covenants

Feb 6, 2018

Originally posted on September 30, 2011 by Ryan

Connor v. Lake Dexter Woods Homeowners Ass’n, Inc., No. 2D09-5382, Fla. App. Ct., Dec. 29, 2010.

The Lake Dexter Woods Homeowners Association sued for an injunction against a disabled resident with an “angry” personality disorder.  Watson, the developmentally disabled resident, lives in the subdivision under the care of his guardian advocate, Connor.  The trial court determined that Watson’s longstanding behavior constituted a nuisance and violated the declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions for Lake Dexter Woods.  Based on the facts, Watson frequently yelled abusive obscenities at other residents, made physical threats against them, and drove his car erratically, often aiming at pedestrians.

The appeals court reluctantly affirmed the injunction, in spite of the fact that it is unlikely to remedy the problem.  The guardian advocate is charged with taking all reasonable steps to keep Watson under control, and has spent more than $47,000 in legal fees for Watson’s defense.

Although this is an unfortunate situation, the board of directors in this case likely decided that the risk of personal injury was too much to ignore the problem any longer and seeking an injunction was the association’s only viable option.

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