Laminate Flooring Can Stay, Judge Rules

Oak Park, IL, July 31, 2008--A Cook County judge has ruled an Oak Forest woman will not have to lose her condominium because she put in laminate flooring in place of carpet, according to a story in the Neighborhood Star.

The judge ruled Lisa Hartig did not have to put carpeting back in because the condo association's ban against laminate flooring was not specifically stated in the condominium declarations, her attorney said.

"We've been saying from the first notice that there was no rule banning hardwood floors. The judge looked at the declarations and he agreed with us," Valadez said.

Hartig had her laminate flooring put in place so it would be cleaner and safer for her children. And she did it two years ago with the Shibui South Condominium Association's consent.

Recently, though, the association had been cracking down on those with laminate flooring and started court proceedings against Hartig and a neighbor to force them to put carpeting in.

However, Valadez argued in both cases that even though the board voted to approve the ban of laminate flooring, it had not changed the condo declarations. He said changing the declarations was the only way the Shibui board could enforce such a ban.

Valadez said it was still possible the board could continue to enforce such a rule, despite the judge's ruling.