Practice Overview:
At the time of his passing in 2018, Jim Strichartz had, for over 30 years, represented condominium associations, planned unit development (homeowner) associations and cooperatives. He handled a wide range of matters, including association governing document (“CC&R”) amendments, association loan transactions, association construction contract review and negotiation, association vendor contract review and negotiation, and board governance advice. Jim served as general corporate counsel to a large number of associations throughout Washington.
Jim was one of the small group of attorneys who drafted the comprehensive Washington Condominium Act. He was an active leader in the association industry (Past President of Washington State Chapter of Community Association Institute (WSCAI)) and prolific presenter and author on various issues affecting associations.
Jim also previously represented a number of developers involved in creation and conversion of condominiums, and was responsible for preparing the basic loan documentation package for the first FNMA lender involved in making cooperative share loans in Washington state. That loan documentation is currently used by the National Cooperative Bank in its share loans in Washington state.
Education:
University of Michigan School of Law, Ann Arbor – J.D., Cum Laude (1977)
Law Clerk to State of Michigan Court of Appeals (1978)
University of Michigan Institute of Public Policy Studies, Ann Arbor - Master of Public Policy (1976)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor – B.A. Urban Studies (1973)
Court Admissions:
Washington (1978)
Michigan (1977) (inactive)
District of Columbia (1979) (inactive)
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (1978)
Recognitions & Honors:
College of Community Association Lawyers, diplomate, 1994.
Who's Who in American Law, beginning 6th edition.
Who's Who in the West, beginning 22nd edition.
Who's Who in Finance and Industry, beginning 26th edition.
Community Associations Institute Hall of Fame, inductee, May, 1990.
Community Associations Institute Century Club, inductee, May, 1991.
CAI National Recruiter of the Year, 1990.
CAI Research Foundation Commendation Award, 1992.
CAI Washington State Chapter President's Award, 1993.
Professional Activities:
Founder and facilitator of the largest national community association lawyer discussion group, [email protected]
Washington State Bar UCIOA (Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act) Legislation Drafting Committee: Member 2009-2013
Washington Common Interest Ownership Act Legislative Task Force: Member, Drafting Committee, March, 1994 to 1996. Charged by the Washington State Legislature with preparing legislation based upon the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act for consideration during the 1995 legislative session.
Condominium Law Statutory Revision Task Force: Member, June 1987 to 1992, involved in drafting Washington Condominium Act for 1989 Legislative Session, and Washington Condominium Act Amendments and Comments for 1990 Legislative Session.
Senate Judiciary Committee Condominium Law Revision Drafting Sub-Committee: Member and Consumer Protection Sub-Committee Chair, June, 1986 to June, 1987, involved in drafting comprehensive amendments (proposed) to the Washington Horizontal Property Regimes Act.
Community Associations Institute: President, Washington State Chapter (“CAI-WS”), August, 1988 to December, 1990; President-Elect, CAI-WS, January, 1988 to July, 1988. Vice President, CAI-WS, 1987; director, CAI-WS, 1986 to 1992; CAI-WS Newsletter Editor, 1989-1991; organizer, CAI-WS Mediator Training Program (1988); Mediator, CAI-WS Mediation Referral Service Panel (1988-1991); Sustaining Member of the Institute, 1984 to Present; Northwest Regional Vice Chairman, Council of Chapters, 1987-1990; Northwest Regional Chairman, Council of Chapters, 1990-1991; Member, Vision Task Force (1989-1990); Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (National), 1989-1991; Member, Attorney's Committee (National), 1988-1991. Co-chair, Washington State Legislative Action Committee, 1996. Attended Community Associations Law Seminar, Newport Beach, CA in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, and 1991, in Washington DC in 1987, in San Francisco, CA in 1992, in Coronado, CA in 1993 and 2002, and in Marina del Rey in 1994, 1995, 1996 1997, 1998, and 1999, Santa Monica in 2000, Las Vegas in 2001, and New Orleans in 2003. Attended Spring and Fall CAI National Conferences between Fall, 1986 and Fall, 1995 and in Spring, 1997.
Community Associations Institute Research Foundation: Board of Directors, 1991-1966; Vice President, 1994-95; Treasurer, 1995-96.
American Bar Association since 1977, Law Student Member 1974-1977, H-2 Committee member 1992 to present.
Publications:
“Legislature Responds to Pinebrook Case - Right to Foreclose Lien Restored,” CAI Communicator, March/April, 1988.
“Court of Appeals Strikes Down Right to Collect Homeowners' Assessments,” CAI Communicator, March/April, 1988.
“Fair Housing Amendments Act Becomes Law,” CAI Communicator, November/December, 1988.
“Beyond Shelter: Renewing the Community in Community Associations,” CAI Communicator, March/April, 1989.
“State Supreme Court Reverses Looney Case,” CAI Communicator, May/June, 1989.
“The Law of Condominium Operations by Gary A. Poliakoff, J.D., Book Review,” CAI Communicator, May/June, 1989.
“Ontological Reflections on Enhancing the Built Environment,” CAI Communicator, July, 1989.
“Increasing Professionalism: A Focus for the 1990's,” CAI Communicator, February, 1990.
“Reflections on Voluntary Service,” CAI Communicator, February, 1990.
“Management of Condominium Associations Under the Washington Condominium Act,” CAI Communicator, April, 1990.
“The Case for Manager Licensing,” CAI Communicator, December, 1990.
“Requirements for Condominium Due Process Rules Enforcement Procedures Under the Washington Condominium Act,” CAI Communicator, December, 1990.
“The Use of a Master Association for Enforcement of Owners' Association Covenants and Rules,” Resolving Association Disputes, CAI, Second Edition, 1991.
“Beyond Shelter: Reviewing the Community in Community Associations,” Common Ground, May/June, 1989.
“Dealing with Renters,” Common Ground, January/February, 1992.
“Getting Tough with Assessments,” Common Ground, July/August, 1992.
Editor, “Washington Condominium Act Sourcebook,” CAI-WS, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994.
Developed and donated to Puget Sound Multiple Listing Association a uniform Condominium Resale Certificate for use under the Washington Condominium Act, 1989-1990.
Presentations:
Community Associations Law Seminar:
Faculty, “Property Loss 2003: Who Claims. . . Who Pays,” 2003 College of Community Associations Lawyers National Seminar on Community Associations Law, New Orleans, LA.
Faculty, “Issues in Collection of Assessments,” 1997 College of Community Associations Lawyers National Seminar on Community Associations Law, Marina del Rey, CA.
CAI National Conferences:
Speaker, “Complications of Collection of Delinquent Assessments,” 22nd National Conference on Community Associations, San Diego, CA, written materials provided (1987).
Moderator, Drafting Insurance Requirements, 23rd National Conference on Community Associations, New Orleans, LA (1987).
Speaker, “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act,” 25th National Conference on Community Associations, Baltimore, MD, written materials provided (1988).
Speaker and moderator, “Flexible Associations,” 28th National Conference on Community Association, Honolulu, HI (1990).
CAIRF Programs:
Moderator/Speaker, CAIRF Mini-Symposium on Community, Nashville, (1990).
Moderator/Speaker, CAIRF Second Mini-Symposium on Community, San Diego, (1991).
Speaker, CAIRF Symposium on Uniform Multiple Ownership Acts, Washington, DC (1991).
Speaker, CAIRF Symposium on Gated Communities, Atlanta, GA (1993).
Professional Management Development Program:
Co-Instructor, PMDP M-110, Seattle, 1989, 1992, 1993.
CAI-WS Programs:
Faculty Chairman, Operations and Management of Community Associations Leadership Training Program, Seattle (1988).
Faculty Member, Operations and Management of Community Associations Leadership Training Program, Seattle (1987, 1989, 1990).
Faculty Chair, Association Basic Training, 1990, 1991, 1992.
Faculty Member, Association Basic Training, 1993.
Speaker, Alternate Dispute Resolution, written materials provided (1988, 1990).
Speaker, Amending and Updating Governing Documents, written materials provided (1988, 1990, 1992, 1998).
Speaker, Association Security and Liability for Criminal Acts of Third Persons, written materials provided (1990).
Speaker, Collection of Delinquent Assessments, written materials provided (1984, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998).
Speaker, Creating and Maintaining Standards Without Maintaining a Standing Army, written materials provided (1988, 1989).
Speaker, Dealing With Renters, Absentee Owners and the Secondary Mortgage Market, written materials provided (1988, 1991, 1993, 1994).
Speaker, Financial Management of Community Associations, written materials provided (1990).
Speaker, The Impact of the Washington Condominium Act on Existing Associations, written materials provided (multiple programs in 1989 and 1990).
Moderator/Speaker, Legal Issues Forum (1999, 2000, 2001).
Speaker, Legal Issues for Professional Managers (1994).
Speaker, Managing Condominium Association Risks and Liabilities (1985).
Speaker, Plugging the Gaps in Association Insurance Coverage (1990).
Speaker, Preparing Resale Certificates Under the WCA, written materials provided (multiple programs in 1989, 1990 and 1991).
Speaker, Rules Drafting and Enforcement, written materials provided (1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993).
Speaker, The Washington Condominium Act, Seattle, Joint Sponsorship by CAI-WS and Washington State Bar Association, written materials provided (1988).
Speaker, The WCA Revisited, written materials provided (1991).
Speaker, When Elevators Collide: Issues in Association Insurance (1989).
Other Local and Bar Association Programs:
Speaker, “Friends Don't Let Friends Buy Condos,” Washington State Bar Association, Senior Lawyers Section, Annual Meeting (2003).
Speaker, Working with Homeowners Associations, at Trends in Apartment and Condo Management Seminar and Trade Show, Diamond Productions, Seattle, written materials provided (1989).
Speaker, Condominium Management, at Trends in Apartment and Condo Management Seminar and Trade Show, Diamond Productions, Seattle, written materials provided (1990).
Speaker, Introducing the New Washington Condominium Act, Washington State Bar Association, Seattle, written materials provided (1990).
Speaker, Neighborhood Wars: Disputes Between Neighbors and Landowners, Seattle-King County Bar Association, Seattle, written materials provided (1991).
Speaker, Legal Issues for Condominium Association Board Members, Pacific Cities, Inc., Tukwila, WA, written materials provided (1991).
Instructor, Real Estate Law, Seattle-King County Association of Realtors, 1990, 1991, 1992.
Community Activities:
Four Freedoms House of Washington, Inc.: Board member of non-profit senior housing provider, 1994 to 1995.
Shoreline Arts Council: Founding Member of the Board of Directors, 1989 to 1993.
45th Street Community Health Clinic: President, December, 1983 to January, 1989; Director, December, 1983 to 1990; a non-profit community agency providing low cost medical and dental care to residents of North Seattle and North King County on a sliding scale donation basis. The Clinic owns and occupies the recently rehabilitated Wallingford Police and Fire Station, a Seattle Landmark.
Fremont Community Health Clinic: President and Director, June, 1982 to December, 1983; Secretary and Director, February, 1980 to June, 1982; the predecessor to 45th Street Community Health Clinic.
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation: General Counsel, August, 1985 to August, 1987; Vice President, August, 1983 to August, 1985; Trustee, August, 1982 to August, 1987; a non-profit statewide organization involved in the preservation of the built environment in Washington.
