DALLAS, TX - May 15, 2024 - A well-known celebrity resident has been awarded $930,000 in a case against the homeowner's association (HOA) of The Ritz Carlton in Dallas, Texas. The American Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitration Tribunal issued the final award on May 15, 2024 in favor of the celebrity, who has been battling water intrusion issues in his penthouse unit for over a decade.
The arbitration panel found that the HOA of this exclusive Dallas residence breached its contractual responsibility to maintain, repair, and replace the common areas, including the air conditioning units and surrounding roof structure, resulting in significant damage to the celebrity's penthouse unit.
The celebrity, a renowned figure in the entertainment industry, had been a resident for over a decade. The water intrusion issues in the penthouse have persisted for over ten years, causing substantial repair costs and loss of use. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the matter with the HOA, the concerns remained unaddressed, leading to legal action.
The claimant was represented by Julie Pettit and David Urteago from The Pettit Law Firm and Michael K. Hurst from Lynn Pinker Hurst Schwegmann.
"It is unfortunate that it came to this," said the claimant. "Living with water intrusion issues for so long has been a nightmare, and I am relieved that the tribunal recognized the HOA's failure to address these problems. I hope this serves as a reminder to all HOAs about the importance of fulfilling their obligations to maintain and repair common areas."
The Ritz Carlton HOA complied with the tribunal’s order to pay the awarded amounts within 30 days of the final award. This victory sets a precedent for homeowners facing similar issues with their HOAs and emphasizes the significance of holding HOAs accountable for their contractual responsibilities.