Nearly every condominium complex harbors an outlaw – the man, woman, couple or family – who refuses to follow the rules. It could be the young couple blasting the woofers off their stereo at 3 am, the elderly woman who doesn't clean up after her dog, or the raucous family playing Marco Polo in the community pool after midnight.

Offended and outraged, other homeowners make demands on their volunteer board of directors who contact the often-unresponsive management company. Volunteer board members of the homeowners' association issue warnings to procure compliance, but to no avail. Eventually someone reads the rules governing relationships among the homeowners – the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) – and learns that the board has enforceable legal duties and the homeowners have enforceable legal rights.

Many of these disputes make their way to the Dispute Resolution Center of the Los Angeles County Bar Association in West Hollywood. And some of them make their way to me.

Welcome to community mediation. We're well-trained and we're free. But can we deliver justice?

Only if you're one of the first to purchase and read A is for Asshole:  the Grownups' ABCs of Conflict Resolution due out in time for your outlaws' holidays!

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