FORT LAUDERDALE – Residents of a Hollywood condominium allege that their service animals are not being accommodated.
Cherie Serota and Murray Serota filed a complaint on June 8 in 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida - Broward County against Carriage Hills Condominium Inc. and Hugo Herman citing the Florida Fair Housing Act and breach of contract.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that in November 2014, they entered into a settlement agreement with the defendants to allow them to replace their service animals anytime and permit them to be accompanied by their service animals on common areas of the property.
In July 2016, the suit states that the defendants deceived plaintiffs by stating that a new city ordinance prohibits all service animals from the vicinity of the swimming pool. The suit states the city of Hollywood never passed such an ordinance for service animals and swimming pools.
The plaintiffs hold Carriage Hills Condominium Inc. and Hugo Herman responsible because the defendants allegedly interfered with plaintiffs' known legal and contractual rights, and created a story to intimidate and coerce plaintiff into abandoning their rights.
The plaintiffs seek judgment against the defendants for damages, permanent injunctive relief, attorney's fees, interest, and other relief as the court deems just. They are represented by Nolan K. Klein and Hector Ramirez of Law Offices of Nolan Klein PA in Fort Lauderdale.
17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida - Broward County case number 17-C-10994