HOA Litigation. Aide Ontiveros is head of litigation for Adams Kessler PLC. Aide represents associations in all aspects of litigation, including but not limited to, defending and prosecuting lawsuits related to interpretation or enforcement of community association governing documents, obtaining restraining orders to protect boards and employees from harassment, obtaining injunctions prohibiting homeowners from making unauthorized alterations to their units, defending injunctions related to the board’s maintenance obligations, participating in IDR and ADR, and resolving contract disputes with vendors. Aide also assists boards of directors with all aspects of HOA management, in particular during pre-litigation. She counsels boards and property managers on how to avoid litigation and its related costs and expenses via early resolution strategies. Aide also reviews coverage opinions and files appeals of the denial of insurance coverage on behalf of associations.
HOA Law. Aide assists boards of directors with all aspects of HOA management, including advising boards on the Davis-Stirling Act requirements, issuing legal opinions on maintenance obligations, attending board meetings, amending governing documents, obtaining court approval for amendment of governing documents when necessary, and drafting cease and desist orders and violation hearing notices to members.
Experience. Prior to joining our firm, Aide was Of Counsel to one of the largest insurance defense firms in the country, which gave her broad experience in all aspects of litigation including pleadings, discovery, motions, arbitration, mediation, settlement, trial preparation, trials and post-trial matters. Her experience extends to both State and Federal courts. Aide’s litigation cases have included matters involving asbestos, business litigation, employment discrimination, errors and omissions, general liability, mold and water damage, personal injury, premises liability, professional malpractice, sexual harassment, toxic torts and wrongful death. Many involved complex litigation including electronic discovery, voluminous documents and use of litigation databases. Her representation also includes defense of hotels and resorts, and homeowners associations in all stages of litigation, including trial. Because of her litigation skills and fluency in Spanish, Aide has served as counsel for several international clients and was the Los Angeles liaison for the Latin American Practice Group at her prior firm.
Education. Aide is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, Cum Laude. She also earned her Juris Doctorate at the UCLA School of Law. While in law school, Aide clerked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office where she prosecuted many preliminary hearings and eight juvenile trials. Aide is admitted to practice in California as well as the U.S. District Courts of California. Aide is an active member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Mexican-American Bar Association and Hispanic National Bar Association, and is a member of California Association of Community Managers’ Legislative Committee. In past years, Aide has served as a Moot Court judge for UCLA School of Law and the Hispanic National Bar Association.
Language. Aide is fluent in both written and spoken Spanish.
Free Consultation. Association boards of directors may contact Aide Ontiveros for an initial consultation at no cost to their association.