Comments for COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Comment on Maryland Community Association Law – Key Legislative Updates Affecting Condos, HOA & Co-ops in 2026 by MARYLAND CONDOMINIUM ACT & HOA ACT BOOKLET

MARYLAND CONDOMINIUM ACT & HOA ACT BOOKLET — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:07:02 +0000

[…] For a detailed discussion of these new laws, see Cowie Law Group article: Key Legislative Updates for 2026 – Maryland Condos, HOAs and Co-ops. […]

Comment on RESOLVING CONDOMINIUM CONSTRUCTION DEFECT CLAIMS IN MARYLAND by Maryland Community Association Law - Key Legislative Updates Affecting Condos, HOA & Co-ops in 2026 - COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:56:48 +0000

[…] or two or more unit owners on matters affecting the condominium. See Cowie Law Group article, Resolving Condominium Construction Defect Claims in Maryland. Additionally, plaintiff who succeeds on its consumer protection act claim may be awarded […]

Comment on Maryland Court Awards Condominium $6.6 Million for Construction Defects and $500,000 in Attorney Fees by Maryland Community Association Law - Key Legilsative Updates Affecting Condos, HOA & Co-ops in 2026 - COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 05:36:55 +0000

[…] The definition of “consumer” was also expanded to include a condominium “unit owner,” and an HOA “lot owner,” and not just “an actual or prospective purchaser, lessee, assignee or recipient” of a unit or a lot. MD Condo Act § 11-130(b); MD HOA Act § 11B-115(b). This is significant because the MCPA applies to “consumers,” including purchasers or prospective purchasers of “consumer realty,” including a residential condominium unit or HOA home. See, MCPA § 13-101(c) and (d). By specifically amending the Condominium and HOA Acts to state that unit owners and lot owners constitute “consumers,” the legislature is making it clear a that the Maryland consumer protection act applies to condominium and homeowners associations, including the construction, development, marketing, operation and sale of these communities to the public. Under the MCPA, the Attorney General’s office or a private “consumer” may Bring legal claims for violation of the Maryland consumer protection act for unfair or deceptive trade practices. These practices can include misrepresentations, or concealment of material facts, by condominium or HOA developers about the quality or characteristics of a newly constructed condominium or HOA community. Under the Maryland law a condominium association can bring a private claim for violation of the MCPA on behalf of itself or two or more unit owners on matters affecting the condominium. Additionally, plaintiff who succeeds on its consumer protection act claim may be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees by the court. See Cowie Law Group articles, Maryland Condo Association’s Right To Recover Attorney’s Fees In Condominium Construction Defect Case, and Maryland Court Awards Condominium $6.6 Million for Construction Defects and $500,000 in Attorney Fee…. […]

Comment on Comparison of Permitted Reserve Funding Methods for Maryland Condominiums, HOAs and Co-ops by Maryland Community Association Law - Key Legilsative Updates Affecting Condos, HOA & Co-ops in 2026 - COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 05:36:35 +0000

[…] assessment impact, and long-term financial stability. See Cowie Law Group article: “Comparison of Permitted Reserve Funding Methods for Maryland Condominiums, HOAs and Co-ops.” Traditionally, most reserve funding has followed the so-called “component method,” which is […]

Comment on NEW MARYLAND LAW PREVENTS CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPERS FROM SHORTENING STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION DEFECT CLAIMS by MARYLAND CONDOMINIUM ACT & HOA ACT BOOKLET

MARYLAND CONDOMINIUM ACT & HOA ACT BOOKLET — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:14:53 +0000

[…] D. Cowie to protect condominium purchasers from statute of limitations shortening provisions. See article by Nicholas D. Cowie concerning this amendment to the Maryland Condominium […]

Comment on JURY AWARDS CONDO $5.6 MILLION: Maryland construction defect attorneys at Cowie Law Group obtain 5.6 million dollar jury award against national builder for construction defects in Maryland condominium by Construction Defect Litigation on the Rise - Leaders' Choice Insurance - Leaders' Choice Insurance

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:13:12 +0000

[…] condo association in Maryland was awarded $5.6 million due to faulty construction by Ryan […]

Comment on MECHANICS’ LIEN LAW IN MARYLAND by “Payment Defense” to Maryland Mechanics’ Lien Claims - Maryland & DC Construction Lawyers and Construction Litigation Attorneys

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 12:27:08 +0000

[…] of this framework, property owners should work with an experienced Maryland mechanics lien attorney to implement lien risk management strategies, such as general contractor retainage connected to […]

Comment on MARYLAND CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS & MECHANICS’ LIEN LAW – A Strong Payment Remedy for Building Contractors and Material Suppliers by “Payment Defense” to Maryland Mechanics’ Lien Claims - Maryland & DC Construction Lawyers and Construction Litigation Attorneys

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 12:23:43 +0000

[…] a source of funds to satisfy the amount the general contractor owes the unpaid subcontractor. See, Mechanics’ Lien Law in Maryland – by Cowie Law Group, a Maryland construction Law […]

Comment on MECHANIC’S LIENS IN WASHINGTON DC by “Payment Defense” to Washington DC Mechanic’s Lien Claims - Maryland & DC Construction Lawyers and Construction Litigation Attorneys

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:10:59 +0000

[…] subcontractors should work with an experienced Washington, D.C. mechanic’s lien attorney to protect their right to assert a Washington DC mechanic’s lien claim, such as by serving early […]

Comment on MECHANICS’ LIEN LAW IN MARYLAND by Owner’s “Payment Defense” to Subcontractor Mechanics’ Lien Claims in Washington DC and Maryland - COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 20:31:29 +0000

Comment on MECHANIC’S LIENS IN WASHINGTON DC by Owner’s “Payment Defense” to Subcontractor Mechanics’ Lien Claims in Washington DC and Maryland - COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 20:29:20 +0000

[…] subcontractors should work with an experienced Washington, D.C. mechanics lien attorney to protect their mechanics’ lien rights, such as serving early notice of intent to enforce […]

Comment on MARYLAND CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS & MECHANICS’ LIEN LAW – A Strong Payment Remedy for Building Contractors and Material Suppliers by Owner’s “Payment Defense” to Subcontractor Mechanics’ Lien Claims in Washington DC and Maryland - COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 20:27:15 +0000

[…] a right to impose a lien on the owner’s property where the construction project is located. See, Mechanics’ Lien Law in Maryland and Washington, D.C. – by Cowie Law Group, a Washington, D.C. construction Law firm. Once the […]

Comment on Corporate Transparency Act Update: BOI Reporting Now Required by March 21, 2025 by Corporate Transparency Act Update: U.S. Condos and HOAs Exempt from BOI Reporting - COWIE LAW GROUP, P.C

Wed, 21 May 2025 18:03:25 +0000

[…] noted in our prior Transparency Act Update, this interim final rule was expected when FinCen extended the BOI Reporting Requirements to March […]

Comment on Adverse Domination Doctrine Tolls Statute of Limitations on Maryland Condominium Association Legal Claims During Period of Developer Control by 10-Year Statute of Repose & Maryland Condominium and HOA Construction Defect Claims

Fri, 02 May 2025 12:51:09 +0000

[…] To complicate matters, if these defects start to manifest themselves during the period of developer control, such as in the form of water leaks at around windows in a condominium exterior wall, the developer representatives running the Board of Directors may not be motivated to properly and fully investigate the underlying defects that could be systemic throughout the community. They may perform “cosmetic” repairs without properly investigating and addressing the underlying defect. A developer solution may be to apply some caulk around the window rather than investigating the underlying cause of the water leak by removing the exterior siding. Developer representatives on the association board of directors then report back to homeowners that all the defects have been corrected when in fact, they have not been properly investigated or repaired, further delaying the discovery of the underlying defect. For this reason, there is legal defense to the statute of limitations called the “Adverse Domination Doctrine,” which can further prevents claims from accruing when the developer is in control of an association. See, Adverse Domination Doctrine Tolls Statue of Limitations on Maryland Condo Association Legal Claims D…. […]

Comment on Condominium Construction Defect Warranties in Maryland by 10-Year Statute of Repose & Maryland Condominium and HOA Construction Defect Claims

Fri, 02 May 2025 12:48:27 +0000

[…] does not apply. For a discussion of statutory warranties that apply to condominiums and HOA, see, Condominium Construction Defect Warranties in Maryland and The Maryland HOA Common Area […]

Comment on THE MARYLAND HOA COMMON AREA WARRANTY by 10-Year Statute of Repose & Maryland Condominium and HOA Construction Defect Claims

Fri, 02 May 2025 12:28:32 +0000

[…] Maryland’s 10-Year Contractor Statute of Repose only applies to causes of action that are governed by Maryland’s general 3-year statute of limitations (CJ §5–101) under which there can be delayed accrual of a cause of action under the discovery rule. This encompasses all civil causes of action which do not have a specified statutory time period within which a cause of action must be filed in court. For example, in a construction defect case, a claim for negligent construction would be governed by the general 3-year statute of limitations under CJ §5–101 because there is no other statute that’s specifies a time within which a claim for negligent construction can be brought. On the other hand, statutory warranty claims under the Maryland Condominium Act, Section 11–131, the Maryland Homeowners Association Act, Section 11B–110 are not governed by Maryland’s general 3-year statute of limitations (CJ §5–101) because they have their own specified statutory time period within which a claim must be pursued. As such, the concept of “accrual” and the discovery rule does not apply. For a discussion of statutory warranties that apply to condominiums and HOA, see, Condominium Construction Defect Warranties in Maryland and The Maryland HOA Common Area Warranty. […]