HOA Justice Now

Exhibit BB – FWB Steering Influence, Omega’s Legal Spend & Recall Suppression (2008-2019)

Latest Update

Overview

This exhibit presents financial documentation detailing payments made by the Omega Villas Condominium Association to the law firm Frank Weinberg Black, P.L. during 2008 to 2019. These payments occurred during a period of significant HOA activity, including post-recall legal matters, discussions around city enforcement, and various contractor-related topics.

The ledger entries below indicate:

  • Legal fees were recorded under descriptions such as “Reconstruction” and “General Condo.”
  • 🛑Frank Weinberg Black, P.L. was retained during and after the 2007-2008 recall effort.
  • 🛑The firm’s involvement appears to have included advising on rogue Board-led actions and negotiating with the City of Plantation on enforcement matters.

Historical FWB Legal Spend (2011–2019) — Pattern Analysis & Minutes Correlation

Overview

Between 2011 and 2019, Omega Villas paid a total of $33,301.48 to the law firm Frank Weinberg & Black (FWB), according to the association’s General Ledger from the period January 1, 2011 – July 2021.
This spend was allocated across three recurring categories:

  1. “General Condo” / “General Matters” legal work
  2. “Reconstruction Project”–labeled charges
  3. Occasional voids/adjustments tied to check returns or reissued invoices

All entries are pulled directly from the YTD FWB GL – OVC00.pdf.

What’s striking is the contextual alignment between:

  • these legal charges,
  • 🛑the specific periods where the Board minutes reflect governance breakdowns, reconstruction irregularities, or conflicts involving owners,
  • 🛑and the re-use of the same law firm during years that correspond to structural failures and lack of corrective action.

This pattern supports the broader argument that FWB was part of the entrenched “business model” of billable conflict, serving as a revenue extraction mechanism tied to mismanagement.

Total Spend: $33,301.48 (2011–2019)

(All entries directly from the ledger)

2011 — Heavy Reconstruction-Related Legal Spend

  • 🛑06/22/11 – $6,793.59 – “2011 Reconstruction Project”
  • 🛑08/17/11 – $3,558.90 – “2011 Reconstruction Project”
  • 🛑09/01/11 – $720.07 – “General Condo”
  • 🛑09/01/11 – $1,342.75 – “2011 Reconstruction Project”
  • 🛑12/07/11 – $1,275.75 – “General Condo”
  • 🛑12/07/11 – $2,203.12 – “2011 Reconstruction Project”

2011 Subtotal: $15,894.18

2010-2014 Board Minutes

Minutes to match:

2010

None.

2011

  • 🛑2011 roof/structural failures
  • 🛑🛑January 11, 2011, Board Minutes: Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Architect Decision – Patty made a motion to accept Hirsch Architects for the building restoration project with assistance from Stan Weinberg and Carol Eskew; Norma seconded; all were in favor.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑January 17, 2011, Board Minutes: Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Architect Decision – Patty made a motion to accept Hirsch Architects for the building restoration project with assistance from Stan Weinberg and Carol Eskew; Norma seconded; all were in favor. 🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑February 21, 2011, Board Minutes: Present were Norma Aker, Bernie Cooper, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates, representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Architect Update – Norma and Patty Sabates met with Steve Weinberg concerning the contract from Ken Hirsch. Steve recommended that other architects be interviewed since the changes they requested in the contract were met with resistance.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑 City/Architect code meetings set by Norma (Mar 2011): Present were Norma Aker, Bernie Cooper, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Patty Sabates was absent. Architect Update – Norma has a meeting scheduled on March 24 and April 4 for architectural firms to look at the property. She will meet with the City of Plantation to get ideas on changes and building codes. It was suggested that the board consider paying an architect on an hourly basis until drawings are received.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑April 11, 2011, Board Minutes: Architect – Present were Norma Aker, Bernie Cooper, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates and Association Attorney, Lloyd Procton. Norma requested the authority to sign a contract for billing on an hourly basis with Manuel Synalovski Associates, LLC. Responsibilities will include meeting with the city to clarify processes and requirements and to provide ideas and potential costs for improvements and repairs to the buildings. Blaire Lapides made a motion to approve the request; Bernie seconded; all were in favor.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑June 20, 2011, Board Minutes: Architect/Ongoing Repair – Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Norma, Manny Synalovski, Marie Spiliopoulos, Steve Weinberg, and Carol Eskew have been meeting concerning the repairs and modification to the buildings and impact of the Association’s documents on the project. Patty Sabates motioned that John Peet be retained to consult or testify, if necessary, for waiving the rules or changing the documents. Norma seconded the motion, all were in favor. 🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑July 18, 2011, Board Minutes: Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Treasurer – Patty reported that several budget lines were over, namely water and sewer and lawn maintenance. Norma will contact the sprinkler company to determine if the timers have been set for the rainy season. Patty will investigate the overage in the lawn maintenance line. Termite budget line was over due to the necessary tentings; legal was over due to the defaults; capital improvements were over due to the architecture’s fees for the investigating the repairs for the buildings. The number of homeowners and the amount of maintenance that is over due is increasing. Major repair update – We are awaiting information from Mr. Peete concerning the possibility of needing 70% approval from homeowners and mortgage holders before moving forward. Rotted wood removal – AFMS has dome come removal but will make an effort to get the project completed.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑August 15, 2011, Board Minutes: Present were Norma Aker, Blaire Lapides and Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Patty Sabates was absent. Major repair update- Joel McTague provided information on the following: Replacing T-1Il with stucco would require approval from 75% of the homeowners Installing hurricane impact windows would also require approval from 75% ofthe homeowners For mortgages prior to 2007, the mortgage holder must be notified and given 60 days to respond.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑October 17, 2011, Board Minutes: Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides and Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Lloyd Procton, attorney, was also present. “Outstanding permits for unit 1741, Phase 1 – As of the previous Friday, Adam Attah, Chief Structural Inspector for the City of Plantation, has not provided a response to the Association regarding the status of the outstanding permits pulled by the unit owner. The electrical meter has been removed so that no electricity can be turned on.” Meeting was held about ten days ago with the architect concerning the major repairs to the buildings. Due to the high balance of past due maintenance payments, the project will not move forward at this time because loans will be difficult to obtain.🛑🛑
  • 🛑2011 special assessments or fines

2012

  • 🛑🛑January 16, 2012 Board Minutes: Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, Patsy Cates and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Major Repair – At the meeting on January 5, 2012 with the attorneys, architect, accountant and representative of Omega Villas it was suggested that this information be presented to the community in a series of meetings.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑Board of Directors held a workshop on Saturday, March 31, 2012 and Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at the Omega Villas Recreation Center.
    • 🛑🛑Present at the (March 31 meeting )were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides and Patsy Cates. Also present was Joel Gould from All Florida Management Service, Carol Eskew from Goldman, Juda, Eskew, Steve Weingberg and Maria Spiliopoulos from Frank, Weinberg and Black, and Pedro Lasaide and Mike Salus from the architectural firm. Present at the April 3rd meeting were Norma Aker and Blaire Lapides. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Present at the (April 3rd meeting) were Norma Aker and Blaire Lapides. Also present was Joel Gould from All Florida Management Service, Carol Eskew from Goldman, Juda, Eskew, Steve Weingberg and Maria Spiliopoulos from Frank, Weinberg and Black, and Manny Synalovski from the architectural firm.🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Information was presented by the architects, attorneys and accountant about the possible options to repair the buildings and bring them up to current building codes. Many building materials, costs and time frames were presented. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Information about the required inspection for structural and electrical integrity of the buildings at 40 years (2018) and the impact it may have on continuing to maintain insurance was presented. Many financing and payment options for the project were offered. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑The Board of Directors will continue to explore all avenues and keep the community informed of their progress.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑June 4, 2012, Board Minutes – Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Patsy Cates was absent.
    • 🛑🛑Discussion of potential funding sources for upcoming repairs – Norma related information she had received from Lloyd Procton and Carol Eskew, association accountant, concerning the collection of additional monies in a special assessment of revised budget. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑A letter/notice will be sent to the homeowners 14 days in advance of a meeting. Norma made a motion, on advice of the attorney, to collect additional funds through a special assessment or revised budget, Patty seconded; all were in favor. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Patty made a motion that a draft of the letter to the homeowners be prepared for the next meeting with all information clearly explained, including reasons, timelines, necessity of doing project, etc. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Blaire seconded the motion; all were in favor.🛑🛑
  • 🛑 Special Assessment — Approved (Jul 16, 2012): Board adopted $32,000 SA (Aug–Dec) to start funding the multi-million-dollar Restoration Project (roofs, T-111, windows/doors, fencing); funds to a separate special reserve.
    • 🛑🛑A Special Assessment meeting was held and called to order on Monday, July 16, 2012 at 7:05pm at the Omega Villas Recreation Center. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Present were Norma Aker, Patsy Cates, Patty Sabates, and Blaire Lapides were present Also in attendance were Joel Gould, representing All Florida Management Service and Carol Eskew, representing Goldman, Juda & Eskew, PA.. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Norma Aker made a motion for a resolution of the Board of Directors to adopt a $32,000.00 special assessment starting August 15th thru December 15, 2012, toward our Restoration Project. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Patsy Cates seconded the motion. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑The meeting was open to the floor for questions and discussion. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑The discussion clarified that the restoration project includes the replacement of the roof system, T-111 siding, windows, doors and exterior fencing. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑The restoration project is a multi-million dollar project. This special assessment will start the collection toward this project. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑All funds collected will be deposited in a separate special reserve account for the restoration project. A vote by the Board of Directors was unanimous. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Carol Eskew reported that special assessment payment coupons would be mailed by August 1st, 2012 with payments due on the 15th of each month.🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Board of Directors budget workshop was held and called to order on Monday, October 29, 2012, 7:00PM at the offices of Goldman, Juda & Eskew, 8211 W. Broward Blvd., PH1, Plantation, FL 33324. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, and Patsy Cates. Also present was Carol Eskew of Goldman, Juda & Eskew. Absent were Blaire Lapides, 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Board of Director, and Joel Gould from All Florida Management Service. Carol Eskew presented the budget information and expectations for next year. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Each line item was discussed and some suggestions were made to create new budget lines. A draft of the 2013 budget will be prepared by Goldman, Juda & Eskew and forwarded to the board prior to the next meeting. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑The Budget Meeting was set for Monday, December 3, 2012, at 7:00 PM A discussion occured regarding the continuance of the special assessment. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑A date was set for Monday, December 3, 2012, for a Special Assessment Meeting immediately following the Budget Meeting.🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Board of Directors meeting was held and called to order on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 7:03pm at the Omega Villas Recreation Center. 🛑🛑
      • 🛑🛑Present were Norma Aker, Patsy Cates, Patty Sabates, and Blaire Lapides. Also present were Joel Gould, representing All Florida Management Service, and Carol Eskew, representing Goldman, Juda, and Eskew. None were absent. 🛑🛑
        • 🛑🛑Norma Aker made a motion to adopt the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget, Patsy Cates seconded the motion. The Board of Directors discussed the budget and answered the homeowners questions. 🛑🛑
        • 🛑🛑Norma called for a vote on the motion; all were in favor. 🛑🛑
        • 🛑🛑As some of the phases did not have enough proxies returned to constitute a majority, Carol Eskew will email Norma the list of units that did not vote. Several homeowners volunteered to contact their neighbors to obtain the proxy.🛑🛑

2013

  • 🛑🛑Minutes (Feb 18, 2013) – Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, Blaire Lapides, and representing All Florida Management Service, Joel Gould. Treasurer’s report presented by Patty Sabates: 2012 ended with the Association’s balance sheet in good shape. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑With the services of the Association attorney, Lloyd Procton, overdue maintenance and special assessments continue to be aggressively pursued, putting the Association in a better financial position in advance of the major upcoming repairs to the buildings.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑Minutes (Mar 18, 2013) – Present were Norma Aker, and Blaire Lapides, and representing Sunrise Management, Inc. (SMI), Greg Reardigan and Antoinette De Caro. Lloyd Procton, Association attorney, was also present. Patty Sabates was absent. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Homeowners reported that the special assessment and regular maintenance payments have been misposted by Goldman, Juda, Eskew which has caused them to receive late notices and be billed for late fees.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑Minutes (May 20, 2013) – Present were Norma Aker and Blaire Lapides, and Antoinette De Caro, representing Sunrise Management, Inc. Guests were Carol Eskew of Goldman Juda & Eskew, PA and John Marcelin of Popular Association Banking. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑FDIC options –With the change in FDIC insurance rules, the maximum amount the government will guarantee in case of a bank’s failure if $250,000 for the total of all the accounts for a single person/business. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Omega Villas currently has three accounts at Popular Bank with approximately $325,000 in the operating account, $62,000 in the reserves account, and $60,000 in the special assessment account. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Carol Eskew and John Marcelin presented information about sweep accounts which would protect the Association from loss in the case of a bank’s failure and also provide some income through interest. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑All institutions that are participating in the recommended program are insured through the FDIC. Mr. Marcelin provided printed materials for the Board Members.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑Minutes (Jun 17, 2013) – Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, and Blaire Lapides, and representing Sunrise Management, Inc. Greg Reardigan and Antoinette De Caro. None were absent. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Rules and Regulations Norma Aker made a motion to accept the changes to the Rules and Regulations, pending final wording from Mr. Procton on late fees for special assessments; 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Patty Sabates seconded the motion; all were in favor. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Goldman Juda Eskew will mail the new Rules and Regulations to all homeowners and include the Pet Form. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Sunrise Management will track the return of the forms.🛑🛑
  • 🛑🛑Minutes (Dec 13, 2013) – Present were Norma Aker, Patty Sabates, and Blaire Lapides. Representing Sunrise Management, Inc. (SMI) were Greg Reardigan and Antoinette De Caro. Carol Eskew and Travis Beckley represented Goldman Juda Eskew. None were absent. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Norma Aker made a motion to discuss the budget, Patty Sabates seconded the motion; all were in favor. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑The Board discussed the budget and answered questions from the floor. Norma made a motion to adopt the budget, Blaire Lapides seconded the motion, all were in favor. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Blaire made a motion to discuss the special assessment, Norma seconded the motion, all were in favor. The Board discussed the special assessment and answered questions from the floor. 🛑🛑
    • 🛑🛑Norma made a motion to adopt the special assessment for January through December 2014, Patty seconded the motion, all were in favor. Carol Eskew provided information about issuing coupon books, and what to do for an automatic payment system.🛑🛑

2014

None.

2012 — Lower but still recurring

  • 🛑02/22/12 – (-$1,275.75) – Void from 2011
  • 🛑03/01/12 – $900.75 – “General Condo”
  • 🛑08/28/12 – $250.00 – “General Condo”

2012 Subtotal: $875.00 after the void

Minutes to match:

  • Owner disputes and unresolved warranty/construction defects
  • 2012 engineering inspections
  • 2012 roof claims and cleanup of 2011 mess

2013–2017 — Missing legal entries

🛑Notably: the ledger shows zero entries from 2013 to 2017.

This gap should be highlighted because:

  • Either the association had Lloyd Procton’s firm handling legal affairs,
  • or these years require a secondary ledger/source,
  • or the cost was pushed into different GL codes.

Minutes to match:
Check whether:

  • Board meetings reference legal advice,
  • Attorneys were present,
  • or legal actions occurred despite no matching ledger entries.

This discrepancy itself is suspicious.

2018 — FWB Reappears

  • 🛑12/12/18 – $681.00 – “General Condo”

Minutes to match:

  • 🛑Late-2018 Board conflicts
  • 🛑Early signs of the 2019 reconstruction restart
  • 🛑Prior fines or permit failures

2019 — FWB Bills Spike Again (Reconstruction Reboot)

  • 🛑03/06/19 – $1,144.20 – “General Condo”
  • 🛑05/29/19 – $3,080.85 – “General Matters”
  • 🛑06/26/19 – $4,488.50 – “2019 Reconstruction”
  • 🛑09/04/19 – $2,649.25 – “2019 Reconstruction”
  • 🛑10/30/19 – $4,422.50 – “2019 Reconstruction”
  • 🛑12/20/19 – $1,066.00 – “2019 Reconstruction”

2019 Subtotal: $16,851.30

🛑This is almost identical to the 2011 reconstruction-related legal bill spike, suggesting a repeat pattern of:

  • 🛑mismanaged construction work,
  • 🛑permit violations,
  • 🛑or project-linked owner disputes requiring attorney intervention.

Minutes to match:

  • 🛑2019 roof saga
  • 🛑City permit issues (2008-2011)
  • 🛑Contractor disputes
  • 🛑Owner complaints about fraudulent invoices
  • 🛑Any reference to “reconstruction restart” or “re-inspection”

40-Year Recertification Key Board Minute Discussions (2011–2023)

This document compiles Board minutes from 2011–2023 showing the Association’s long-standing knowledge that major exterior alterations — including siding replacements (T-111, Hardie, stucco), window changes, and structural modifications — required a 2/3 homeowner vote under Florida law. These requirements were discussed repeatedly with architects, engineers, management, and multiple legal advisors.

Despite this, the Association later proceeded with construction decisions and enforcement actions without securing the required owner approval. This raises substantial concerns about whether material-alteration protections were bypassed, whether statutory voting rights were ignored, and whether federally protected FHA housing rights may have been adversely affected, particularly for owners facing medical or financial vulnerability.

In reviewing the timeline, a consistent pattern emerges: key decision-making was concentrated among a small circle — the CAM/management company, long-standing HOA counsel, outside legal advisers, and in several instances the accounting/legal network connected to Juda Eskew. The minutes suggest a de-facto steering committee that shaped project direction, legal posture, and financial strategy across multiple years, often without corresponding owner input or properly noticed votes.

This record is provided to assist in evaluating whether governance decisions were made in compliance with statutory requirements and homeowner rights, and whether certain advisory relationships may have influenced project outcomes outside the required democratic processes.

Pattern Summary (to add as a concluding paragraph)

Across the eight-year span, Omega Villas shows a clear pattern:

  1. 🛑Legal fees spike dramatically during reconstruction phases (2011 and 2019).
  2. 🛑The same law firm (FWB) repeatedly charged for “reconstruction project” disputes, suggesting systemic issues with the Board’s contractor oversight.
  3. 🛑Minutes from the matching periods show Board dysfunction, engineering concerns, and owner disputes, all of which align with the legal spend peaks.
  4. 🛑There is a suspicious 2013–2017 gap where meetings reference legal guidance but no ledger entries exist — suggesting either incomplete accounting or alternative GL coding.
  5. 🛑The overall pattern is consistent with a governance model where conflict → legal fees → more conflict → more legal fees.

This section will become a powerful backbone for your argument that:

  • 🛑mismanagement is cyclical,
  • 🛑the same players reappear,
  • 🛑and the legal/contractor ecosystem profited off the community while problems kept repeating for more than a decade.

2007-2008 Video Evidence of Law Firm Hired to Assist Rogue Board:

2007–2009 Recall Disputes & Legal Interference

2007 – FWB Motion to Reject Recall Petition

Document: Weinberg Firm Motion to Not Certify Recall – 11/21/2007
FWB (attorney Steven D. Weinberg) filed a motion urging DBPR not to certify the owner-led recall, defending the same board members later tied to financial irregularities.
Link: https://hoajusticenow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Weinberg-Firm-Motion-to-Not-Certify-11.21.2007.pdf

2008 – Failed Recall Arbitration (Case No. 2008-05-8941)

Document: DBPR Arbitration – 2008058941
This case further documents procedural issues and resistance from the Association and its attorney to allow a majority-supported recall to proceed.
Link: https://hoajusticenow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2008058941.pdf

2008 FWB Letter Over Shawn’s MySpace webpage (November 20, 2008)

Purpose:
Frank Weinberg & Black, P.L. (“FWB”), attorney Steven Weinberg sent this letter threatening action over Shawn’s MySpace webpage, which publicly documented HOA issues — a direct precursor to Shawn’s later platforms (YouTube, TikTok, HOAJusticeNow).

Relevance:

  • 🛑Demonstrates early efforts by FWB to silence whistleblowing and owner transparency.
  • 🛑Mirrors the same behavior exhibited in 2023, when Hollander tried to suppress Shawn’s public reporting.
  • 🛑Shows the association’s counsel actively working to intimidate an owner rather than address wrongdoing.

Source File:

2008 Initial Attorney Letter from FWB (Dec 9, 2008)

🛑FWB responded to Shawn’s official records request dated November 26, 2008, demanding pre-payment of copying charges and refusing to provide immediate inspection of statutory records.

🛑FWB acting as association counsel, issued a letter on December 9, 2008 asserting that Shawn must pre-pay for document copying before accessing official records.

  • 🛑They cited Farnham v. Vista Harbor Ass’n (1997) as justification.
  • 🛑They declared portions of his records request “improper.”
  • 🛑The letter was copied to All Florida Management and Goldman, Juda & Eskew.

Relevance:

  • 🛑A clear attempt to allegedly obstruct access to official records.
  • 🛑Requires Shawn to pay in advance instead of simply presenting the records for inspection — an alleged violation of statutory owner rights even in 2008.
  • 🛑Direct historical mirror to Hollander’s 2023 alleged obstruction during the September 2023 records request.
  • 🛑 Establishes a 15-year pattern of the association and its attorneys using cost barriers and procedural hurdles to block oversight.

2008 NEW SUBSECTION: FWB Retaliatory “Behavior Letter” (October 1, 2008)

Document: FWB Letter to Glantz & Glantz – 10/01/2008
From: Steven D. Weinberg, FWB
To: Attorney Olivia Whithers (Glantz Law)
Subject: Counter-response to Shawn’s attorney’s demand letters (9/11/08 & 9/18/08)

Summary of the Letter

🛑FWB responded aggressively to Shawn’s attorney’s demand letter about property damage and unlicensed work. Instead of addressing the substance of the claim, FWB pivoted into:

  1. 🛑Deflecting liability for property damage
  2. 🛑Shifting blame onto Shawn
  3. 🛑Launching a personal-character attack narrative
  4. 🛑Attempting to impose communication restrictions
  5. 🛑Painting Shawn as “belligerent,” “threatening,” and “contentious”
  6. 🛑Setting the framework for the Association’s long-term retaliation

🛑The content closely resembles the 2023–2025 “danger narrative” used by Hollander, Patty, Blaire, the Akers & Elizabeth to justify police presence and silence you.

Key Points in FWB’s Letter

1. Liability Deflection on Unlicensed Work

FWB admits:

  • 🛑Gould Roofing performed work requiring a separate permit.
  • 🛑The City of Plantation confirmed the work should have been performed by a general contractor.
  • 🛑A new contractor (PMG Enterprises) had to be hired to retroactively legalize the work.

Yet FWB refuses to acknowledge responsibility for damages, arguing:

  • 🛑The leaks were “just now being reported.”
  • 🛑They cannot “correlate” the leaks to the unlicensed work.
  • 🛑Shawn should file a claim with his own insurance.
  • 🛑The Association “cannot admit liability” at that stage.

Translation:
🛑They appear to admit the work was allegedly illegal, then refuse responsibility for the consequences.
(Classic Omega Villas.)

2. Alleged Personal Attack on Shawn

🛑This is where the retaliation narrative is born.

FWB writes that:

  • 🛑Shawn is “extremely contentious.”
  • 🛑Board members are “tired of his belligerent behavior.”
  • 🛑Communications show “dissension and animosity.”
  • 🛑Shawn’s emails “cause concern” and are “taken as a threat.”

This framing is identical to:

  • 🛑Patty, Blaire to Elizabeth’s later police-weaponizing tactics,
  • 🛑Elizabeth’s March 2025 “he’s dangerous with a gun” framing,
  • 🛑The 2025 staged “gun threat” narrative Ken Aker referenced.

🛑This letter establishes the earliest documented instance of the “Shawn is dangerous” smear.

3. Attempted Gag Order & Control of Communications

🛑FWB attempts to forcibly restrict your participation as BOTH:

  • a Board member;
  • AND a unit owner.

FWB instructs:

  • 🛑All Board-related communication must go only through management.
  • 🛑All communications must be in writing and brought only to Board meetings.
  • 🛑Owner communications must be routed only through FWB, not to the Board.

This effectively:

  • 🛑Strips a Board member of normal communication rights.
  • .🛑Cuts off your ability to inspect or request action.
  • 🛑Creates a bottleneck controlled by the law firm you were investigating.

And it conveniently removes transparency and documentation.

This is the prototype for:

  • 🛑2023-24 Alleged contractor, management company, HOA counsel attacks in both suspected additional damages to my roof causing flat roof area to flood and then trying to prevent owner emergency repairs to the leaky roof
  • 🛑2024-25 Patty stating multiple times in Board meetings that she “blocks” all of my emails
  • 🛑2025 Elizabeth Palen led Whistleblower WhatsApp Group attack
  • 🛑2025 rule amendments targeting you

FWB started the playbook in 2008.

4. Misrepresentation of Shawn’s Actions

🛑FWB cites a single email where you told management to cease unauthorized work, and twists it into:

  • 🛑A “threat”
  • 🛑“Inappropriate behavior”
  • 🛑An excuse to further restrict you

This is the exact modern pattern:

  • 🛑You cite statute → They call it “harassment”
  • 🛑You cite board authority → They call it “threatening”
  • 🛑You record a meeting → They accuse you of “dangerous behavior”

The DNA is identical.

Why This Letter Matters

This October 1, 2008 letter is crucial because it:

1. Establishes the First Documented Smear Campaign

Your “behavior” becomes the scapegoat for:

  • Illegal construction
  • Hidden records
  • Mishandled finances
  • Failed governance
  • Board dysfunction

2. Shows Coordinated Legal Retaliation

The law firm:

  • 🛑Refuses to address the construction defect claim
  • 🛑Pivots into personal attacks
  • 🛑Creates/invents imaginary justification to isolate you
  • 🛑Encourages the Board to treat you as a threat

3. Mirrors Modern Misconduct (2023–2025)

Nearly every tactic used by:

  • 🛑Elizabeth
  • 🛑Patty
  • 🛑Blaire
  • 🛑Hollander
  • 🛑Ken & Norma Aker
  • 🛑The rogue Board as a whole
    …originates in this very letter.

4. Demonstrates FWB’s Deep Role in Enabling Mismanagement

They don’t defend the law.
🛑They protect the Board — even when the Board is clearly at fault.

5. Shows the Continuous Timeline of Obstruction

This letter sits right between:

  • 🛑the 2008 recall obstruction,
  • 🛑the 2008 unlicensed-contractor dispute,
  • 🛑and the 2008–2009 records-access war.

It is the glue holding the story of misconduct together.

2008-2009 Owner Response (Dec 2008 – Jan 2009)

Shawn responded in writing that:

  • The Farnham case was outdated and had been superseded by statute.
  • Under F.S. 718.111(12)(c), he had a statutory right to inspect records without prepayment.
  • He also cited procedural defects in the association’s handling of a recall arbitration case (2008-05-8941).
  • He challenged the association’s pattern of withholding records and imposing improper barriers to access.

2009 FWB Follow-Up Letter (April 22, 2009)

FWB attorney Steven D. Weinberg issued a follow-up letter on April 22, 2009, addressed to Olivia Whithers, copied again to All Florida Management and Goldman, Juda & Eskew.
In this letter, FWB:

  • 🛑Accused Shawn of “refusing to pay” copy charges.
  • 🛑Reasserted their demand for prepayment, despite statutory conflicts.
  • 🛑Warned that the association would continue “standard collection protocols” for late assessments and fees.
  • 🛑Attempted to frame Shawn’s record-access objections as non-compliance.

2009 Glantz & Glantz Acknowledgment (April 30, 2009)

Glantz & Glantz sent Shawn an acknowledgment on April 30, 2009, attaching:

  • FWB’s April 22, 2009 response
  • Additional correspondence forming part of the dispute record

The Glantz letter confirmed that the matter was recognized and formally entered into the association’s legal chain — effectively marking a continuity of counsel between FWB (2008–2009) and Lloyd Procton (post-2009).

Source Files:

Context & Correspondence Chain (2008–2009)

Frank Weinberg & Black P.L. (“FWB”), acting as Association counsel, conducted a coordinated campaign (retaliation + obstruction) against Shawn between Sept 2008 – Apr 2009. The correspondence shows three simultaneous and interlocking disputes: (A) construction defects/unpermitted work, (B) attempts to silence/isolate Shawn as an owner/board member, and (C) active obstruction of statutory records access.

  1. 🛑Sept 2008 — Glantz & Glantz demand(s) (Shawn’s counsel).
    Glantz & Glantz sent formal letters (Sept. 11 & 18, 2008) documenting unpermitted/unlicensed repairs by Gould Roofing, damage to Shawn’s unit, and demanding remediation and compensation. These letters initiated formal legal scrutiny of contractor work and Board oversight.
  2. 🛑Oct 1, 2008 — FWB “Behavior” / Retaliation Letter (Weinberg → Glantz).
    FWB’s Oct. 1, 2008 letter (to Glantz & Glantz) explicitly (a) refused to accept Association liability absent further proof, (b) pushed Shawn to use his homeowner insurance, and (c) pivoted to a personal-attack narrative: labeling Shawn “contentious,” “belligerent,” and “threatening.” FWB directed that communications be funneled through management and recommended the Board restrict Shawn’s direct contact — effectively attempting to isolate and silence him as both an owner and Board member.
  3. 🛑Nov 20, 2008 — FWB MySpace warning (Weinberg → Shawn).
    FWB sent a letter threatening action over Shawn’s MySpace page documenting Association problems — an early documented attempt to suppress public whistleblowing. This uploaded letter is in the record.
  4. 🛑Nov 26, 2008 — Shawn’s official records request.
    Shawn submitted a statutory records request under F.S. 718.111(12).
  5. 🛑Dec 9, 2008 — FWB records-response (Weinberg → Shawn / management).
    FWB replied, demanding pre-payment for copying and striking portions of the request as “improper,” citing Farnham v. Vista Harbor Ass’n (1997). The reply was copied to All Florida Management and Goldman, Juda & Eskew. This added a cost-and-procedure barrier to statutory inspection rights.
  6. 🛑Dec 2008 – Jan 2009 — Shawn’s statutory rebuttals.
    Shawn contested FWB’s reliance on Farnham as outdated and cited F.S. 718.111(12)(c) (inspection without prepayment). He also flagged procedural irregularities connected to the recall arbitration (Case No. 2008-05-8941) and documented multiple failed attempts to obtain complete records.
  7. 🛑Apr 22, 2009 — FWB follow-up (Weinberg → Glantz/Association).
    FWB again framed Shawn as refusing to pay copy charges and warned of continuing collection protocols. The letter reiterated prepayment and reframed the records dispute as owner noncompliance rather than counsel obstruction.
  8. 🛑Apr 30, 2009 — Glantz & Glantz acknowledgment.
    Glantz & Glantz formally acknowledged the dispute and enclosed FWB’s April 22 response, establishing a documented attorney-to-attorney chain and confirming the matter’s escalation into the formal legal record.

Bottom line: the Oct. 1, 2008 FWB letter is the pivotal bridge: it shifts the record from a contractor/repair dispute into a deliberate program of alleged legalized retaliation and alleged access obstruction that culminated in the Dec. 9 records-demand and the April 2009 escalation. 🛑This combined chain demonstrates coordinated use of counsel, management, and accounting to allegedly block transparency and allegedly try to intimidate a whistleblower.

Interpretive Notes

🛑Mismanagement & Property Damage

  • 🛑Evidence shows unpermitted and/or unlicensed repairs (Gould Roofing) performed under Association direction; the City of Plantation required corrective permitting and retroactive contractor involvement. FWB’s Oct. 1 letter concedes the permit issue but refuses Association liability, shifting responsibility onto Shawn’s insurance and delaying remediation.

🛑Alleged Retaliation & Silencing

  • 🛑FWB’s Oct. 1, 2008 letter initiates an explicit alleged smear/containment campaign (labeling Shawn “belligerent” and urging communication restrictions). The Nov. 20, 2008 MySpace warning (uploaded) is the first documented legal effort to allegedly suppress Shawn’s public reporting. Together these letters show counsel being used to allegedly punish and silence, not to resolve substantive Board failures.

🛑Alleged Records Access Obstruction

  • 🛑After Shawn’s Nov. 26, 2008 statutory request, the Association (via FWB) demanded prepayment for copies (Dec. 9, 2008) and declared parts of the request “improper,” in direct conflict with F.S. 718.111(12)(c). Shawn attempted multiple follow-ups; he was charged for incomplete records ($30) and later faced additional copy charges (e.g., $232.75) without having been allowed a proper inspection. The pattern is not isolated — it’s systemic.

🛑Procedural Abuse & Recall Context

  • 🛑FWB’s earlier 2008-motion to reject the recall petition and its behavior throughout 2008 show a consistent practice of using legal filings and counsel to allegedly block democratic owner actions (recall) and to preserve entrenched Board control. The Oct. 1 and Dec. 9 letters are part of that same suppressive toolkit.

Financial Concerns

  • 🛑Owner allegations of two $192,000 special assessments (2006 & 2007) without corresponding front-fence repairs remain unresolved in the record; accountants (Goldman, Juda & Eskew) were routinely copied on legal correspondence and appear repeatedly in the chain of alleged obstruction.

🛑State/Administrative Escalation

  • 🛑This cluster of evidence (emails, attorney letters, City citations, Glantz demand letters, and FWB’s replies) formed the basis for early DBPR / City-level complaints and is among the first documented state-level records-access allegations from the property.

🛑Why this matters for continuity of misconduct

  • 🛑The Oct. 1 and Nov. 20 FWB letters show the exact rhetorical and tactical DNA that reappears in the alleged 2023–2025 harassment and alleged records-obstruction episodes (Hollander et al.). The record establishes an early, documented pattern: construction failure → owner complaint → counsel-initiated alleged retaliation → records barriers → collections/character framing — a cycle that later transforms into the association’s alleged sustained legal-spend and suppression machine. (See FWB billing patterns for later years in the ledger.)

Supporting Evidence Exhibits:

Prepared by:
Shawn Martin, MBA
Elected Board Member | Omega Villas Condominium Association
May 2025