Case Summary
| Case ID | 20F-H2020061-REL |
|---|---|
| Agency | ADRE |
| Tribunal | OAH |
| Decision Date | 2020-09-03 |
| Administrative Law Judge | Jenna Clark |
| Outcome | The Administrative Law Judge concluded that the Respondent HOA acted within the scope of its statutory authority during its April 02, 2020, annual meeting and elections, and denied the Petitioner's petition for failure to sustain the burden of proof regarding alleged statutory and bylaw violations. |
| Filing Fees Refunded | $2,000.00 |
| Civil Penalties | $0.00 |
Parties & Counsel
| Petitioner | Samuel T Paparazzo | Counsel | — |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent | Coronado Ranch Community Association | Counsel | Mark Stahl, Esq. |
Alleged Violations
ARIZ. REV. STAT. §§ 33-1804(A), 33-1804(B), 33-1804(F), and Association bylaws 2.3, 2.7, and 3.1
Outcome Summary
The Administrative Law Judge concluded that the Respondent HOA acted within the scope of its statutory authority during its April 02, 2020, annual meeting and elections, and denied the Petitioner's petition for failure to sustain the burden of proof regarding alleged statutory and bylaw violations.
Why this result: The ALJ found that notice of the meeting modification (to an online platform due to COVID-19) was timely and proper, and Petitioner's claimed denial of the right to speak was the result of user error of the online platform, not action by the Association. Furthermore, the decision to hold elections for all five open Board positions was deemed appropriate due to carryover vacancies resulting from a lack of quorum in the prior year (2019).
Key Issues & Findings
Alleged violations regarding Annual Meeting notice (change in venue), right to speak, proper call to order, and staggered board voting.
Petitioner filed a quadruple-issue petition alleging the Association violated statutes and bylaws concerning the April 02, 2020, annual meeting, specifically regarding insufficient notice for the venue change (due to COVID-19), denial of the right to speak (via online chat), improper chair delegation, and failure to stagger Board elections.
Orders: Petitioner’s petition is denied.
Filing fee: $2,000.00, Fee refunded: No
Disposition: petitioner_loss
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A)
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(B)
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(F)
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.05
- ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE R4-9-117
- Tierra Ranchos Homeowners Ass'n v. Kitchukov
Analytics Highlights
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A)
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(B)
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(F)
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.05
- ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 32-2199.02
- ARIZ. ADMIN. CODE R4-9-117
Related election workflow tool
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Video Overview
Audio Overview
Decision Documents
20F-H2020061-REL Decision – 819907.pdf
20F-H2020061-REL Decision – 819907.pdf
Briefing Document: Paparazzo v. Coronado Ranch Community Association (Case No. 20F-H2020061-REL)
Executive Summary
This document synthesizes the findings from the Administrative Law Judge Decision in the matter of Samuel T. Paparazzo versus the Coronado Ranch Community Association. The central conclusion of the proceeding is the denial of the Petitioner’s claims. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) determined that the Petitioner failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the Association violated Arizona state statutes or its own governing bylaws in the conduct of its April 2, 2020, annual meeting.
The critical takeaways from the decision are as follows:
• Meeting Format and Notice: The Association’s decision to move its annual meeting to a virtual platform (ClickMeeting) was deemed a lawful and appropriate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Arizona Governor’s related executive orders. The notification methods, which included physical signs and multiple emails, were found to be sufficient.
• Right to Speak: The Petitioner’s claim that he was denied the right to speak because he was “blocked” from the online chat feature was dismissed. The ALJ concluded the issue stemmed from “user error”—the Petitioner typed messages but failed to transmit them by pressing ‘enter’ or ‘send’. The fact that 26 other members successfully used the chat feature demonstrated its functionality.
• Meeting Conduct: The Association’s president properly called the meeting to order before delegating chairing responsibilities to the Association’s Managing Agent, an action the Petitioner conceded was within the president’s authority.
• Board Elections: The election of all five Board of Director positions simultaneously, rather than in staggered terms, was justified by unique circumstances. The Association’s 2019 annual meeting failed to achieve a quorum, preventing an election and resulting in a “carryover of open seats,” which necessitated filling all positions in the 2020 election.
Ultimately, the ALJ found that the Association and its Board acted within the scope of their statutory authority and that the challenges raised by the Petitioner were without merit.
I. Case Overview
This briefing analyzes the Administrative Law Judge Decision issued on September 3, 2020, following an evidentiary hearing held on August 18, 2020.
• Case Number: 20F-H2020061-REL
• Presiding Judge: Administrative Law Judge Jenna Clark
• Petitioner: Samuel T. Paparazzo (Homeowner and Association Member)
• Respondent: Coronado Ranch Community Association (HOA)
• Central Issue: The core of the dispute was whether the Coronado Ranch Community Association violated Arizona Revised Statutes and specific sections of its own bylaws during its annual meeting on April 2, 2020.
II. Petitioner’s Allegations
On May 15, 2020, Samuel Paparazzo filed a quadruple-issue petition alleging that the Association committed the following violations:
1. Improper Notice of Meeting: Providing less than 10-days’ notice regarding a “change in venue” for the annual meeting to only a small portion of the membership, in violation of ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(B) and Association Bylaw 2.3.
2. Denial of Right to Speak: Preventing the Petitioner from exercising his right to speak by “blocking” or otherwise disabling his use of the online “chat feature” during the virtual meeting, in violation of ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A).
3. Improper Meeting Conduct: Failing to properly call the annual meeting to order, in violation of Association Bylaw 2.7.
4. Improper Board Election: Conducting the Board of Directors election without the “staggered” terms required by the bylaws, in violation of Association Bylaw 3.1.
III. Factual Chronology and Key Evidence
The decision outlines a clear sequence of events, heavily influenced by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feb. 20, 2020
The Association issues its initial notice for the annual meeting, scheduled for April 2, 2020, at Coronado Elementary School.
Mar. 12, 2020
The Association mails election ballots to all Members.
Mar. 19, 2020
Arizona Governor Douglas Ducey issues Executive Order 2020-09, limiting certain business operations to slow the spread of COVID-19.
~Mar. 25, 2020
The Association’s President, Bob Hicks, officially moves the meeting to the virtual ClickMeeting platform.
Mar. 25 – Apr. 1
The Association notifies Members of the change via 12 signs at 6 community entrances and three separate email blasts to approximately 750 Members, which had an average open rate of 63.53%.
Mar. 30, 2020
Governor Ducey issues Executive Order 2020-18, the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected” order.
Apr. 1, 2020
Two signs are placed at the entrance to the original meeting location, Coronado Elementary School, informing of the change.
Apr. 2, 2020
The Annual Meeting is held via ClickMeeting.
• President Hicks calls the meeting to order and then appoints Managing Agent Kevin Bishop to chair the remainder of the meeting.
• A quorum is achieved based on attendees and absentee ballots.
• An election is held for all 5 open Board positions due to a lack of quorum at the 2019 meeting.
• The Petitioner types messages in the chat window but fails to hit “enter” or click “send” to transmit them. He receives no response to an email for help sent during the meeting.
• At least 26 other Members successfully use the chat feature.
IV. Analysis of Key Issues and Legal Conclusions
The Administrative Law Judge systematically addressed and dismissed each of the Petitioner’s four allegations, concluding that the Board acted lawfully and within its authority.
A. Meeting Notice and Venue Change
• Alleged Violation: ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(B) and Bylaw 2.3 (Notice of Meetings).
• Finding: The petition was denied on this point. The ALJ concluded that the notice of the Association’s 2020 annual meeting was “timely and properly noticed.” The move to an online platform was not an arbitrary venue change but a necessary and reasonable measure to comply with the Governor’s executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Supporting Evidence:
◦ The Association made a multi-faceted effort to inform Members through physical signs and repeated emails.
◦ The Petitioner received notice of the modification and, crucially, “failed to raise an objection prior to or during the meeting at issue.”
◦ A Member’s attendance at a meeting waives objections to defective notice, as stated in Bylaw 2.3.
B. Right to Speak
• Alleged Violation: ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A) (Open Meetings and Member Participation).
• Finding: The petition was denied on this point. The ALJ determined the Petitioner’s inability to communicate during the meeting was the result of “user error” and not a deliberate act by the Association to silence him.
• Supporting Evidence:
◦ The Petitioner wrote messages but never finalized the action by hitting the “enter” key or clicking the “send” button.
◦ The chat feature was demonstrably functional, as it was “successfully used by no less than 26 other Members during the annual meeting.”
◦ The decision explicitly states, “The Association is not responsible for Petitioner’s lack of ClickMeeting proficiency.”
C. Conduct of Meeting
• Alleged Violation: Bylaw 2.7 (Organization and Conduct of Meeting).
• Finding: The petition was denied on this point. The meeting was lawfully conducted.
• Supporting Evidence:
◦ The Association President, Bob Hicks, called the meeting to order and took roll before appointing Managing Agent Kevin Bishop to chair the rest of the meeting.
◦ The Petitioner “conceded during cross-examination that President Hicks had the authority task Agent Bishop with chairing the annual meeting.”
D. Board of Directors Election
• Alleged Violation: Bylaw 3.1 (Number and Terms of Office).
• Finding: The petition was denied on this point. The election for all five Board seats was deemed “lawful and appropriate given the circumstances.”
• Supporting Evidence:
◦ The bylaw’s provision for staggered terms could not be implemented because the 2019 annual meeting lacked a quorum, which meant no election took place that year.
◦ This lack of a 2019 vote “resulted in a carryover of open seats,” necessitating a vote for all five Board positions in 2020.
◦ The Petitioner “admitted that it had not been possible for the Association to stagger Board electees in the 2020 vote because no quorum had been reached to vote in 2019.”
V. Final Order and Disposition
Based on the findings of fact and conclusions of law, the Administrative Law Judge issued a final order.
• Order: “IT IS ORDERED that Petitioner’s petition be denied.”
• Legal Standard: The Petitioner bore the burden of proving his case by a “preponderance of the evidence.” The ALJ concluded that the record did not establish any violations and that the Petitioner “failed to sustain his burden of proof in this matter.”
• Date of Order: The decision was issued on September 3, 2020.
Study Guide: Paparazzo v. Coronado Ranch Community Association
This guide is designed to review the key facts, legal arguments, and conclusions presented in the Administrative Law Judge Decision for case number 20F-H2020061-REL, Samuel T Paparazzo v. Coronado Ranch Community Association.
Short-Answer Quiz
Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences, based on the information provided in the case document.
1. Who were the primary parties in this case, and what were their roles?
2. What were the four specific allegations the Petitioner made against the Association regarding its Annual Meeting?
3. How did the Association notify its members of the change from an in-person meeting to a virtual one?
4. What was the legal justification for the Association’s decision to move the Annual Meeting to an online platform?
5. What evidence was presented to counter the Petitioner’s claim that he was “blocked” from using the online chat feature?
6. According to the Association’s bylaws, who has the authority to chair the annual meeting and delegate that responsibility?
7. Why did the 2020 Board of Directors election involve voting for all five open positions instead of being staggered?
8. What is the “preponderance of the evidence” standard, and who bore the burden of proof in this hearing?
9. What two key Arizona Revised Statutes (ARIZ. REV. STAT.) relate to member meeting notices and the right to speak?
10. What was the final order issued by the Administrative Law Judge, and what was the core reasoning behind it?
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Answer Key
1. The primary parties were Samuel T. Paparazzo, the Petitioner, who is a property owner and member of the Association, and the Coronado Ranch Community Association, the Respondent, which is the homeowners’ association for the subdivision. The Petitioner brought the complaint, and the Respondent defended its actions.
2. The Petitioner alleged that: (i) inadequate notice of the “change in venue” was given; (ii) he was denied his right to speak by being blocked from the online chat feature; (iii) the meeting was not properly called to order; and (iv) the Board of Directors vote was not properly “staggered.”
3. The Association notified members of the move to the ClickMeeting platform by placing 12 signs at 6 common entrances, sending three separate emails to approximately 750 members, and placing 2 signs at the entrance of the originally scheduled location, Coronado Elementary School.
4. The legal justification was the need to comply with executive orders issued by Arizona Governor Douglas Ducey (2020-09, 2020-12, and 2020-18) to slow the spread of COVID-19. The online platform was adopted to allow homeowners to safely access the meeting while adhering to physical distancing mandates.
5. The evidence showed that the Petitioner wrote messages but never hit the “enter” key or “send” button to transmit them. Furthermore, the record indicates that no less than 26 other members successfully used the chat feature during the meeting.
6. According to Bylaw Section 2.7, the President of the Association, Bob Hicks, has the authority to call the meeting to order and chair it. The Petitioner conceded during cross-examination that President Hicks had the authority to delegate the chairing of the meeting to the Association’s Managing Agent, Kevin Bishop.
7. The election involved all five positions because a quorum had not been achieved at the Association’s 2019 annual meeting. This lack of a quorum prevented a vote from taking place, resulting in a carryover of all open board seats to the 2020 election.
8. A “preponderance of the evidence” is the standard of proof required, meaning the evidence must be more probably true than not. In this proceeding, the Petitioner, Samuel Paparazzo, bore the burden of proving his allegations by this standard.
9. ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(B) requires notice to be sent not fewer than 10 nor more than 50 days in advance of a meeting. ARIZ. REV. STAT. § 33-1804(A) ensures that all meetings are open to members and that members are permitted to attend and speak at an appropriate time.
10. The final order was that the Petitioner’s petition be denied. The judge reasoned that the Petitioner failed to sustain his burden of proof, as the evidence showed the Association’s actions were lawful and appropriate responses to the circumstances, and the Petitioner’s inability to participate was due to user error.
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Essay Questions
The following questions are designed for deeper analysis of the case. No answers are provided.
1. Analyze the role of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated executive orders in the events of this case. How did these external factors influence the Association’s actions and the Administrative Law Judge’s final decision?
2. The judge concluded that the Petitioner’s inability to use the chat function was due to “user error.” Discuss the evidence that supports this conclusion and explore the legal line between an association’s responsibility to provide access and a member’s responsibility to utilize the provided tools correctly.
3. Explain the relationship between the Association’s governing documents (CC&Rs and Bylaws) and Arizona state law (ARIZ. REV. STAT.). How did the judge use both to evaluate the legality of the Association’s handling of the annual meeting and election?
4. The Petitioner argued that the online platform constituted a “change in venue” that required more extensive notice. Based on the judge’s decision, evaluate the legal merits of this argument in the context of a virtual meeting necessitated by a public health crisis.
5. Discuss the concept of “quorum” as it applied to both the 2019 and 2020 annual meetings. How did the failure to achieve quorum in one year directly impact the procedures and outcome of the election in the following year?
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Glossary of Key Terms
Definition from Context
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
An independent judicial officer (Jenna Clark in this case) from the Office of Administrative Hearings who conducts evidentiary hearings and issues decisions on matters referred by state agencies like the Department of Real Estate.
ARIZ. REV. STAT.
Abbreviation for Arizona Revised Statutes, the collection of laws for the state of Arizona. Title 33, Chapter 16, Article 1 specifically regulates planned communities (homeowners’ associations).
Association
The Coronado Ranch Community Association, the homeowners’ association for the residential development in Gilbert, Arizona. It is governed by its CC&Rs and overseen by a Board of Directors.
Bylaws
The governing documents of the Association that detail the structure of day-to-day governance, including voting processes, quorum requirements, meeting provisions, and other operating guidelines.
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. These form an enforceable contract between the Association and each property owner, empowering the Association to control certain aspects of property use within the development.
Declarant Control Period
An initial period in an association’s history where the developer (the “Declarant”) controls the Board of Directors. In this case, this period ended for the Association in 2005.
Department
The Arizona Department of Real Estate, the state agency authorized by statute to receive and decide petitions for hearings from members of homeowners’ associations.
The Office of Administrative Hearings, an independent state agency that was referred this matter to conduct an evidentiary hearing and decide the case.
Petitioner
Samuel T. Paparazzo, the property owner and Association member who filed the petition with the Department, alleging violations by the Association.
Preponderance of the Evidence
The burden of proof required in this hearing. It is defined as proof that convinces the trier of fact that a contention is “more probably true than not,” representing the greater weight of evidence.
Quorum
The minimum number of members required to be present or represented by ballot for a meeting to be valid and for votes to be taken. The failure to achieve quorum at the 2019 meeting resulted in a carryover of open board seats.
Respondent
The Coronado Ranch Community Association, the party against whom the petition was filed. The Respondent denied all allegations and was represented by legal counsel.
He Sued His HOA Over a Virtual Meeting—The Judge’s Ruling Contains 4 Critical Lessons for Every Homeowner
Introduction: The New Battlefield for Neighborhood Disputes
Cast your mind back to the chaotic spring of 2020. The world was locking down, businesses were scrambling to go remote, and the delicate social contracts of our neighborhoods were fraying. For millions living in Homeowners’ Associations, this meant the abrupt cancellation of in-person meetings, replaced by a frantic pivot to unfamiliar virtual platforms. In this pressure cooker of uncertainty and technical glitches, minor grievances quickly escalated into major legal battles.
The case of Paparazzo vs. Coronado Ranch Community Association is a quintessential legal drama of that era. A frustrated homeowner, believing he was silenced and his rights ignored during a virtual meeting, took his HOA to court. The judge’s decision, however, serves as a powerful cautionary tale. It distills four surprising and impactful lessons that every homeowner should understand as community governance becomes increasingly digital.
1. The Takeaway: You Can’t Claim You Were Silenced If You Forgot to Hit ‘Send’
The petitioner, Samuel Paparazzo, leveled a serious charge: that the HOA had denied his right to speak by “blocking” him from using the online chat feature during the annual meeting. In his view, this was an intentional act of suppression.
The digital evidence, however, told a very different story. While Mr. Paparazzo had typed several messages, he had never actually transmitted them by hitting the “enter” key or clicking the “send” button. While he did email for assistance during the meeting without receiving a timely response, the court found the chat feature was fully functional, proven by the fact that at least 26 other members used it successfully. The judge’s ruling was a stark lesson in digital accountability:
Petitioner’s inability to effectively communicate with the Association during the annual meeting was the result of user error. … The Association is not responsible for Petitioner’s lack of ClickMeeting proficiency.
This establishes a critical precedent for our digital age. The analysis here goes beyond simple “user error.” It suggests that a baseline of digital literacy is becoming a prerequisite for effective civic participation. Courts may have little sympathy for claims of disenfranchisement that stem from a failure to master the basic tools of modern communication.
2. The Takeaway: An Emergency Can Justify Last-Minute Changes
Next, the petitioner challenged the HOA on procedural grounds—a classic move in community disputes. He argued that the association failed to provide proper notice for the virtual meeting. The HOA had correctly noticed its in-person meeting for April 2, 2020, back on February 20. But by late March, holding that meeting had become impossible.
The judge’s response to this claim is a masterclass in how legal “reasonableness” can override rigid bylaws during a crisis. The court noted the rapidly evolving timeline of the pandemic: Governor Ducey issued executive orders limiting business operations on March 19, prohibiting the closure of essential services on March 23, and issuing the “Stay Home” order on March 30. Faced with these superseding government mandates, the HOA moved the meeting online on March 25.
Crucially, the HOA’s communication efforts were extensive and documented. They didn’t just send a single email. The board notified its members by:
• Placing 12 signs at 6 common entrances to the community.
• Sending three separate email blasts to approximately 750 members, which had an average open rate of 63.53%.
• Placing 2 additional signs at the entrance to the originally scheduled location, Coronado Elementary School.
The judge concluded that the HOA’s actions were a justifiable response to an unprecedented emergency. This wasn’t a board ignoring its rules; it was a board taking necessary steps to comply with government orders and protect its members, legally justifying the short-notice change in format.
3. The Takeaway: Just Showing Up Can Waive Your Right to Complain
This lesson hinges on a legal concept every homeowner must understand: waiver by attendance. Buried in the association’s bylaws was Section 2.3, which states: “A Member’s attendance at a meeting waives objection to the lack of notice or defective notice of the meeting.”
This is not mere legalese; it’s a common and powerful clause designed to ensure the finality of meetings. It prevents a member from strategically attending a meeting, remaining silent about a potential procedural flaw, and then launching a lawsuit later if they don’t like the outcome. The judge noted that the petitioner attended the virtual meeting but did not object to the notice “prior to or during” the event. By participating without raising a formal objection at the time, he legally accepted the meeting’s procedures and waived his right to challenge them later.
4. The Takeaway: The Past Can Haunt the Present
The petitioner’s final major complaint appeared to be a slam dunk: the election for the Board of Directors was not “staggered” as explicitly required by Bylaws Section 3.1. Instead of a mix of one- and two-year terms to ensure continuity, all five open board positions were elected at once. On its face, this was a clear violation.
But the reason for this anomaly demonstrates the domino effect of governance. The judge found that in the previous year, 2019, the association had failed to achieve a quorum for its annual meeting. Because there was no quorum, no vote could occur, creating a “carryover of open seats.” This failure in 2019 created a governance debt that had to be paid in 2020. The only lawful way to do so was to elect members to all five vacant positions. This shows that an HOA is a continuous legal entity; one year’s procedural failure doesn’t just disappear—it creates unusual but legally necessary circumstances the next.
Conclusion: A Final Thought for the Digital Neighborhood
The case of Paparazzo vs. Coronado Ranch Community Association offers a clear and compelling look at the collision between established community rules, the new realities of digital life, and the chaos of unforeseen global events. It shows that while bylaws and statutes provide a framework, their application can be shaped by emergencies, past events, and even a single user’s technical skills.
As our communities increasingly operate online, who bears the greater responsibility for ensuring effective communication—the organization hosting the meeting, or the individual attending it?
Case Participants
Petitioner Side
- Samuel Paparazzo (petitioner)
Also referred to as Samuel T Paparazzo
Respondent Side
- Mark Stahl (HOA attorney)
Coronado Ranch Community Association
Also spelled Mark Sahl in source - Timothy Butterfield (HOA attorney)
Coronado Ranch Community Association - Kevin Bishop (community manager)
Coronado Ranch Community Association
Appeared as a witness for Respondent; Also referred to as 'Agent Bishop' and chaired part of the annual meeting - Bob Hicks (HOA Board President)
Coronado Ranch Community Association
Delegated chairing of the annual meeting
Neutral Parties
- Jenna Clark (ALJ)
Office of Administrative Hearings - Judy Lowe (Commissioner)
Arizona Department of Real Estate