Bankruptcy does not prevent actions to collect assessments  Mark
Pearlstein  Condo Adviser  May 11, 2012   Q. I am on the board
of a medium-size homeowners association of 150 units. Collection
problems make budgeting a definite challenge. One owner has been
in bankruptcy for several years and has not paid monthly
assessments in more than three years. The association has placed
a lien on his property, but we have been advised that the
bankruptcy stops all further action on our part.  It seems
unfair that the other owners must effectively cover the
delinquent owner's deficiency while he enjoys all the benefits
of the association for free. Does the association have any
recourse?  A. The bankruptcy filing of a unit owner does not
prevent the association from taking legal action to collect
assessments. The scope of the association's remedies will depend
upon the type of bankruptcy filed by the unit owner, and will
require the association to obtain court permission to lift the
automatic bankruptcy stay to proceed w