On The Commons celebrates 16 years of bringing you news and views of condo and homeowners associations.   This is the first show of our 17th year on the air.  Thanks to everyone for making this possible.  

Sometimes it appears that the the powers of the world are stacked against the individual.  No matter what the situation, the individual often finds him or herself standing alone, facing seemingly insurmountable odds.  How did we ever get to this point? That sense of having lost control is growing across all areas of life.  It has even invaded our most cherished private sanctum, our home.  But I believe that the power and the will of the people is not quite ready to be relegated to the annals of history.  Every so often there is a glimmer of hope and a sign that all is not yet lost.  And that little spark you see in the dark comes from the Virginia Supreme Court.

John Cowherd joins us On The Commons.  John is an attorney in Northern Virginia and one of a handful of attorneys nationwide who will represent homeowners in their battles with their homeowner and condo associations.  John also has a blog called Words of Conveyance so he is always on the lookout for news and stories of interest to share with his readers and our radio audience.  Today we will talk about The Day the Universe Changed as a result of a Virginia Supreme Court decision issued on June 16.  In his blog, John quotes Steve Emmert, a VA appellate law blogger, who claims this decision represents a “nuclear explosion”.  That can only be good for homeowners.  Join us as John walks us through the case and explains what the Parrish v. Federal National Mortgage Association is all about and explains how this case may help homeowners facing foreclosure and eviction.