Adams Stirling PLC
Menu

TASK FORCE MEMBERS

The Task Force was selected by Professor Katharine Rosenberry to assist in the writing of the Davis-Stirling Act. They represented industry leaders in community management and the legal field.

  PETER T. SAPUTO

Peter is a partner at Little & Saputo, a Walnut Creek law firm established in 1983. He earned a B.S. at UC Berkeley in 1976 and both a J.D. and M.B.A in 1979 at Golden Gate University. In 1980 he graduated from an LL.M. program at Golden Gate University.

Peter is a past chair of the State Bar Common Interest Development Subcommittee and of the California Building Industry Association Real Estate Committee.

The focus of Peter’s practice involves the creation of Common Interest Developments on behalf of residential and commercial real estate developers throughout California.
 
  GARY AGUIRRE

Mr. Aguirre has two law degrees: an LL.B. from the University of California’s Boalt Hall, where he was a Ford Foundation grantee, and an LL.M. with Honors from Georgetown University Law Center focused on securities, financial regulation, and international law. Several of his articles published in recent years in professional and academic journals have focused on private and government enforcement of the securities acts. One of them, The Enron Decision: Closing the Fraud-Free Zone on Errant Gatekeepers?, took second prize in the national competition sponsored by the SEC Alumni Association for the best article on securities law. Other recent articles include: The Dodd-Frank Act: A FOIA Exemption for SEC Misconduct? Wall Street Lawyer, September 2010; Section 10(b) Has Hatched a New Theory of Securities Fraud, But Will It Fly? Consumer Attorneys of California Forum Journal (February 2004).

In starting Aguirre Law, APC, Gary Aguirre renews his unwavering commitment to excellence known to San Diego attorneys, judges, and the public for decades. His track record reflects that commitment. As San Diego Lawyer Magazine tells, Mr. Aguirre and his prior law firm, Aguirre & Eckmann, had “recoveries in excess of $200 million in 94 consecutive winning cases.”

Peer ratings also confirm Mr. Aguirre’s pursuit of excellence. Martindale-Hubbell peer review rates Mr. Aguirre as “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5,” as it has for the past three decades. The Av Preeminent rating “demonstrates that a lawyer has earned the highest rating available for their legal ability and professional ethics.” The Consumer Attorneys of San Diego honored Mr. Aguirre twice with its “Outstanding Trial Attorney Award” and a third time with its “Outstanding Advocate Award.” In November 2013, Mr. Aguirre was again recognized as one of Southern California’s “Top Rated Lawyers” by American Lawyer Media and Martindale Hubbell.
 
  CURTIS C. SPROUL

Curt is a partner in Sproul Trost LLP of Roseville. He earned his B.A. degree in 1970 and his J.D. degree in 1973 from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Mr. Sproul served on the task force appointed by the legislature to draft the original Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act and was later appointed by the State Senate Committee on Housing and Land Use as a member of a new task force to reevaluate the Davis-Stirling Act and to propose further amendments to improve the law. He also served on a special committee of the State Bar to revise and expand the California nonprofit Corporation Law, which led to the adoption of the present Nonprofit Corporation Law in 1980. He has also chaired and served on the State Bar Business Law Section and other subcommittees of the State Bar.

Mr. Sproul specializes in representing homeowners associations, common interest developers, and nonprofit organizations of all kinds. Formerly a partner in the Sacramento office of Weintraub Genshlea Chediak Sproul, Mr. Sproul coauthored the original version of this book (Advising California Condominium and Homeowners Associations) as well as the 2003 edition of this title, and he has served as lead update author ever since. He is a coauthor of CEB’s Advising California Nonprofit Corporations and has published numerous articles and spoken frequently on the subject of nonprofit corporations and common interest developments.
 
  DAVID M. VAN ATTA

Mr. Van Atta has an active law practice in Real Estate (Property) Law, Land Use and Development Law, Real Estate Finance, and Community Association Law.

Mr. Van Atta has practiced as a real estate attorney for over thirty-nine years. Mr. Van Atta’s legal practice has involved all aspects of real property transactions, with a particular emphasis on real estate development, acquisition and finance. He has extensive experience with residential developments of all types and scale, community association formation and operations, as well as with resort and hotel projects and office buildings; land use and zoning matters; and real estate lending. Mr. Van Atta has represented several major high technology companies in Silicon Valley and San Francisco in land and building acquisition and leasing transactions.


Mr. Van Atta has been an active practitioner in the field of common interest developments and community associations since 1970. He has prepared subdivision documentation for numerous master-planned residential developments and residential and commercial condominium projects and several mixed – use communities in Northern and Southern California. Mr. Van Atta is often called upon to represent developer clients with respect to subdivision and development matters with local government authorities and the State of California Department of Real Estate. He regularly advises community associations as to legal issues as to their operations and management.
 
  MICHAEL PACKARD

Michael Packard has more than 35 years experience in the community association management industry as a Senior Executive. He was one of the first 20 recipients of the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) designation from the Community Associations Institute (CAI), and also holds the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate management (IREM) and the Certified California Association Manager (CCAM) designation. He also holds a Nevada Certified Association Manager (CAM) certificate and a California Brokers license.

Packard is a former National President of CAI and its Research Foundation. He is also a former President of San Diego’s CAI and IREM Chapters. He is a recipient of CAI’s national Distinguished Service award, IREM’s Presidential Achievement award and San Diego Manager of the Year award.

After receiving a BA from New Mexico State University, where he served as senior class President, Packard earned an MBA from Pepperdine University. He served in the US Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain, and received the Bronze Star Medal for service as an Air Commando during the Viet Nam conflict.

Packard is a nationally published author and is an instructor for CAI, IREM and CACM. Additionally, he has taught property management internationally in Russia, Poland, Japan, Australia and Canada.
 
  MELINDA MASSON

Currently, she is focused on a portfolio of industry, community, and investment activities serving as a Partner and Managing Partner of four closely held partnerships, which own, manage, and invest in residential and commercial properties as well as start-up companies. Until 2011, Ms. Masson was the CEO of the Merit Companies, which she founded in 1980, and grew into the largest conglomerate privately held community association company in the nation with 12 offices and 650 employees, prior to its sale to FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV, TSX: FSV) in 2007.

As a Board Chairman and CEO, she led consulting, advisory, and direct services for developers, from early stage through completion, on master planned communities, mixed-use developments, high-rise projects, condominiums, and standard subdivisions. She consulted on 4,000+ development start-up projects housing more than 1 million units throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

Ms. Masson is a Trustee of the Urban Land Institute in Washington, DC, an independent global nonprofit supported by members representing the entire spectrum of real estate development and land use disciplines. Since 2008 she has Chaired the Community Development Council, the 50-member Council of CEOs from national real estate development companies, financial institutions, legal, and related real estate professions focused on community development.

She has been certified as a Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) from the Community Association Institute and a California Community Association Manager (CCAM). Ms. Masson earned a BS (summa cum laude) from the University of Minnesota and an AA from North Iowa Area Community College.
 
  F. SCOTT JACKSON

Scott Jackson is a founding member of the Firm. His s practice concentrates in real estate law and he chairs the Firm’s Subdivisions Services Group, which has created over 1,200 residential, mixed-use and commercial owners associations for builders and land developers.

Mr. Jackson has authored several books and articles including two annually updated chapters in Forming California Common Interest Developments, published by the California State Bar. He also co-authored the book entitled Condominiums and Cooperatives with the Assistant Attorney General of the State of New York, and he co-authored the textbook Business Condominiums published by the National Association of Home Builders. He also edited three chapters for the California State Bar in the book entitled Advising California Common Interest Communities.

Mr. Jackson is a past president of the national Community Associations Institute, a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and a charter member of the Board of Governors of the College of Community Association Lawyers. He is also a member of the California Building Industry Association and a member of the CBIA Liaison Committee with the California Department of Real Estate. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lennar Charitable Housing Foundation, a member of the United Way Housing Committee, and chairman of the Orange County Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Jackson is an “AV” (Martindale Hubbell) top-rated attorney, and has been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers® List every year since 2006, as chosen by his peers and through independent research of Los Angeles Magazine. Mr. Jackson was named to Who’s Who Legal’s The International Who’s Who of Real Estate Lawyers 2013.

Mr. Jackson is described as “a leading commentator” by the California Court of Appeal and his writings were cited with approval in Davert v. Larson, 163 Cal.App. 3d 407 (1985); Ruoff v. Harbor Creek Community Association, 10 Cal.App. 4th 1624 (1992); and Nahrstedt v. Lakeside Village Condominium Association, 8 Cal. 4th 361 (1994).

EDUCATION: University of Denver, College of Law, J.D., 1971, Cum Laude
United States Air Force Academy, B.S., 1967

 
  BRIAN D. GREENBERG

Brian assists lenders, developers, real estate agents and consultants throughout the USA obtain VA/FHA and Fannie Mae approval of condominium projects.

He prepares complete submissions to VA and FHA as well as VA/FHA/Fannie Mae attorney opinion letters for condominium project approvals. He also prepares organizational documentation for condominium projects, condominium conversion projects and planned developments for developers in California in accordance with California Department of Real Estate ( “DRE”) requirements.

Brian has assisted numerous real estate agents in San Diego and on Coronado Island obtain VA approval of condominium projects for their veteran purchasers. I work with all lenders to expedite VA condominium project approvals.

EDUCATION
Pepperdine University School of Law
University of California, Los Angeles (“UCLA”)

 
  WAYNE HANSON

Wayne “Skip” Hanson is a pioneer in California’s Community Association industry and one of the drafters of the Davis-Stirling Act, the body of California Civil Code statutes which govern common interest developments. For 16 years he served as the Vice-Chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the California Association of Community Managers, and he is the principle author of the organization's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Hanson has held local, state and national positions in the Community Association Institute, a national organization dedicated to best practices in community association management, governance and law. He graduated from USC and was a Commander in the United States Navy where he served in active duty for seven years, and 22 years in the Naval Reserves.

Hanson is a member of The Webb Schools’ Board of Trustees

 
Adams Stirling PLC