Author Archives: John Colby Cowherd

John Colby Cowherd Visit Website
Attorney protecting the rights of Virginia & D.C. property owners. Cowherd PLC (703) 884-2894
Community Associations

Can a Board of Directors Make Decisions for the HOA by Unanimous Emails?

photo of woman using laptop

Condominium and HOA leaders usually expect the owners and tenants to do what they tell them to do, and often struggle to back down when their authority is questioned. At the same time, boards and committees like to make decisions that affect others without being monitored or disclosing what was done. I recently published an […]

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Community Associations

Worlds are Colliding! When Attorneys Sit on HOA Boards

woman filling job application form in office with boss

            Before Jaime Harrison ran for U.S. Senate or became chair of the Democratic National Committee, he was a director on the board of a condominium in Alexandria, Virginia while I was an owner-occupant. We had annual elections for board positions. Sometimes there was an election, other times we left without voting because there was […]

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Community Associations

Making Property Decisions as the Region Reopens

aerial photo of vehicles on road

On May 14, 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam lifted the indoor mask mandate in light of updated CDC guidance. Governor Northam also declared that the indoor capacity restrictions and distancing restrictions will ease, effective May 28, 2021. The District of Columbia and neighboring states are also lifting restrictions, effective around the Memorial Day weekend. The […]

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Consumer Protection Litigation

Do Attorney General Lawsuits Actually Help Consumers?

photo of woman holding her head

Whenever a legal dispute seems intractable, many people want an agency or official to bring the power of the government to bear on their problem with their adversary. Aggrieved persons often try to exhaust such possibilities before retaining their own attorney. Regulatory enforcement through federal, state or local resources seems more attractive than expending one’s […]

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Litigation

Have We Already Agreed to Settle or Merely Agreed to Later Agree?

colleagues discussing details of project on meeting

People usually think of a “litigation settlement” as written, agreed terms signed by the parties. However, parties can become legally bound to oral or electronic settlement terms before the parties get to a formal writing or court order. Generally speaking, a contract to settle a lawsuit or other dispute does not require a signed writing […]

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