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Neighborhood report

$100 lawsuit wasn't a surprise to all

The property manager recalls learning about it. The board doesn't. In other news, parents seek funding for swim blocks.

By STEPHANIE HAYES
Published December 16, 2005

WESTCHASE - The mystery of the Westchase lawsuit was not, it turns out, so mysterious.

A breakdown in communications seems to have occurred between the property manager and the community association.

The association's board was caught off-guard when they learned last week about the lawsuit, which contests a $100 document fee.

"At any time along that route, we should have gotten notice," president Daryl Manning said Monday. "We didn't receive sufficient notice."

Property manager Nicole Michael does recall learning about the lawsuit. However, she says that when the association's lawyer called her, it was just to ask questions.

Homeowner Gregory Grant is suing over a $100 "welcome documents package fee" that, according to Michael, covers the printing and mailing of deed restriction documents. Grant says he should not have had to pay the fee, as he moved to a Westchase home in 2004 from another Westchase home.

The suit has been through a pretrial conference and court-ordered mediation. Grant said he is waiting for a trial to start.

Westchase's lawyer, Steve Mezer, has declined to comment.

Separately, a group of swim team parents in Westchase are asking the community association to pay for new starting blocks at their pool.

Rachel Sellers, a swim team parent, said the current starting blocks are dangerous and useless.

The Dolphins' parents say the current blocks are too flat, and create a slipping hazard.

They wanted $12,000 for eight new ones. So far, the association has agreed to pay $3,600 and the swim team has raised another $2,400.

- Stephanie Hayes can be reached at 813 269-5303 or shayes@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 15, 2005, 10:05:12]