Expert Details

Mobile Home Law, Legal Disputes between Mobile Home Park Ownership/Management and Tenants

ID: 729172 California, USA

Expert has 33 years of practice in California in real estate law, with particular expertise in all matters relating to the law governing ownership, operation, and management of mobilehome parks. Appointed by the State Bar of California as the founding Chairman of the State Bar Committee on Mobilehome Law in 1982, he was a registered lobbyist at the State Capitol on all issues involving mobilehome parks from 1980 to 2008. Has been recognized as a mobilehome law expert witness by several Superior Courts in California. Appointed by the State Bar of California as a Member of the Real Property Section Executive Committee from 1982-1985 and served as the section Vice-Chair in 1985. Extensive experience as President of a nonprofit owner and manager of mobilehome communities, overseeing correct property management procedures. A particularly effective expert witness due to his extensive experience and expertise, not only from a tenant perspective, but as President of a nonprofit with park ownership and property management experience, providing a balanced and reasoned basis for his expert opinion.

Contacted by selling broker of mobilehome park to evaluate income and expense information provided by Seller, to evaluate park management practices, evaluate condition of park common areas and infrastructure, and to render opinion on whether buyer should proceed with park purchase.Based on his 28 years of experience as a lobbyist at the state capitol on all mobilehome issues, hired by counsel to provide expert testimony based on "legislative intent" of a relatively new law because there was no case authority on this primary issue.Hired as an expert witness to testify on Plaintiff's claim of park interference with resale of the mobilehome. Provided legislative intent and legislative history of law in question due to absence of case authority on the statute.Hired as consultant to determine the correct procedures to be used in the closure of a mobilehome park, and its conversion to another use. Work involved legal obligations to displaced residents, relocation expenses, etc.Hired as consultant to advise homeowners association with respect to lease negotiations for a long-term lease in a mobilehome community.
Advice regarding amendments to park rules and regulations.

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Education

Year	Degree	Subject	Institution
Year: 1977	Degree: JD	Subject: Law	Institution: Western State University College of Law
Year: 1973	Degree: BA	Subject: Political Science	Institution: University of California at Santa Barbara
Year: 1971	Degree: AA	Subject: General Undergrad Studies	Institution: Sacramento City College

Work History

Years	Employer	Title	Department
Years: 1977 to 2010	Employer: Law Office of Maurice A. Priest	Title: Principal	Department:
Responsibilities: Owner and principal of the law practice. Works directly with clients.

Career Accomplishments

Associations / Societies
California State Bar since 1977; Hawaii State Bar since 1989; US Supreme Court Bar since 1996.

Licenses / Certifications
California State Bar, Hawaii State Bar Licenses. CA Real Estate Broker License.

Professional Appointments
Founding Chairman of the CA State Bar Committee on Mobilehome Law in 1982; Appointed by State Bar as Member of Real Property Section Executive Committee 1982-1985, Vice-Chair in 1985.

Awards / Recognition
California State Senate and State Assembly Resolutions honoring his contributions as a lobbyist for over 25 years on issues involving affordable housing and mobilehome law.

Publications and Patents Summary
Author of monthly column "The Capitol Report" in the monthly newspaper of Golden State Manufactured Home Owners League, Inc. (GSMOL), The Californian, from 1980-2008 summarizing new developments in mobilehome law and explaining mobilehome law to a layperson audience of over 17,000 monthly subscribers. He also submitted an Amicus Brief to the California Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Defendant and Appellant, who prevailed on appeal in this published decision.

Publications and Patents Summary

Author of monthly column "The Capitol Report" in the monthly newspaper of Golden State Manufactured Home Owners League, Inc. (GSMOL), The Californian, from 1980-2008 summarizing new developments in mobilehome law and explaining mobilehome law to a layperson audience of over 17,000 monthly subscribers. He also submitted an Amicus Brief to the California Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Defendant and Appellant, who prevailed on appeal in this published decision.

Additional Experience

Expert Witness Experience
He has testified as an expert witness in mobilehome law in numerous state courts in California, working closely with trial counsel, giving expert witness deposition testimony. He is familiar with the process from having handled numerous mobilehome law trials throughout California in the past 33 years.

Training / Seminars
As a registered lobbyist for Golden State Manufactured Home Owners League, Inc. (GSMOL) for 28 years, and for the San Diego County Bar Association for 5 years, he has provided information to groups as diverse as mobilehome park tenants and an audience of attorneys. Prepared and gave annual seminars to mobilehome tenants regarding new developments in mobilehome law, leases, park rules and regulations, interference with mobilehome resales, nonprofit purchase and management of mobilehome parks and other related subjects. He authored the monthly column "The Capitol Report" in GSMOL's monthly newspaper for 28 years.

Training / Seminars

As a registered lobbyist for Golden State Manufactured Home Owners League, Inc. (GSMOL) for 28 years, and for the San Diego County Bar Association for 5 years, he has provided information to groups as diverse as mobilehome park tenants and an audience of attorneys. Prepared and gave annual seminars to mobilehome tenants regarding new developments in mobilehome law, leases, park rules and regulations, interference with mobilehome resales, nonprofit purchase and management of mobilehome parks and other related subjects. He authored the monthly column "The Capitol Report" in GSMOL's monthly newspaper for 28 years.

Marketing Experience
As a consumer advocate for mobilehome owners, a President of a nonprofit owner and manager of mobilehome parks, and a registered lobbyist at the State Capitol on mobilehome issues, he is in a unique position to testify on industry standards, growth, and trends in the mobilehome industry.

Other Relevant Experience
Available for "emergency consultations" to attorneys and others who are considering the filing of suits involving the operation and management of mobilehome parks. Has also been consulted by investors considering the purchase of particular mobilehome parks to evaluate spreadsheets, condition of park common areas, management, etc.

Fields of Expertise

real estate, real estate contract, real estate law, mobile home