John Gordon and James Shepherd ( the association’s attorney ) violated Florida Statutes by refusing to allow an owner to make copies of association records using his own personal electronic device during a record inspection meeting. Florida Statutes allow for owners to make copies of association records at their own expense. However, John Gordon and James Shepherd insist that an owner cannot make their own copy of records. If an owner wants a copy of a document that he’s holding in his hand, he needs to write down a description of that document on a list and then submit that list of document descriptions to the association for copying. The association will then go through the list of descriptions of documents, find those documents, copy them for the owner, and then charge the owner an arbitrary fee for that service. This is a violation of Florida Statutes. However, owners, recognize that because the association chooses to violate this statute, you may now submit a list of any records that you want copies of to John Gordon and James Shepherd and then the association will copy them for you within ten working days AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. So, go for it, owners. It’s your legal right to inspect and have copies of almost all records created during the operation of the association, and the association insists on making those copies for you. Be aware, though, that the likely reason that the association insists on violating this statute is so they can redact or falsify records before providing anyone with copies of them. If you have concerns about the the association’s decision to deliberately violate Florida Statutes or if you want to request copies of records, you may contact the association’s attorney directly. Attempting to contact John Gordon for any reason will be a complete waste of your time.

James Everett Shepherd V, Florida Bar #947873
ForsterBoughman
2200 Lucien Way Ste 405
Maitland, FL 32751-7048
Office: 407-255-2055
Fax: 407-965-5327
Email: shepherd@fbl-law.com

718.111(12)(c)(1)

The official records of the association are open to inspection by any association member and any person authorized by an association member as a representative of such member at all reasonable times. The right to inspect the records includes the right to make or obtain copies, at the reasonable expense, if any, of the member and of the person authorized by the association member as a representative of such member. A renter of a unit has a right to inspect and copy only the declaration of condominium, the association’s bylaws and rules, and the inspection reports described in ss. 553.899 and 718.301(4)(p). The association may adopt reasonable rules regarding the frequency, time, location, notice, and manner of record inspections and copying but may not require a member to demonstrate any purpose or state any reason for the inspection. The failure of an association to provide the records within 10 working days after receipt of a written request creates a rebuttable presumption that the association willfully failed to comply with this paragraph. A unit owner who is denied access to official records is entitled to the actual damages or minimum damages for the association’s willful failure to comply. Minimum damages are $50 per calendar day for up to 10 days, beginning on the 11th working day after receipt of the written request. The failure to permit inspection entitles any person prevailing in an enforcement action to recover reasonable attorney fees from the person in control of the records who, directly or indirectly, knowingly denied access to the records.