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Welcome to All Deer Ridge Owners

Welcome to all owners of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort condos in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

My goal is to help all Deer Ridge owners to have a voice in the management and operation of your property.

Click on the TITLES of any of the following subjects to read the whole posting - and see the comments made by your co-owners. You can also type any term into the below search box, or any word or term in the search cloud.

Click the big image at the top of the page to return to the front page at any time.

Investment Analysis For A Rental Condo At Deer Ridge


Will you really lose $40,000 cash if you buy a rental condo at Deer Ridge and use Ridge Management Ltd?

Click To Download!

As an owner-occupied home, Deer Ridge is an incredible value with THE best view in the Smokies and great amenities.

However, several owners and would-be owners of Deer Ridge condos have asked me if these units are a good rental property investment or not. To help answer that question objectively, I had to analyze the real moving parts of buying and owning here.

Get my complete, detailed investment analysis based on buying a rental condo unit at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

It shows what you MUST do to make money when you buy a rental unit at Deer Ridge.

Just click the picture or click Investment Analysis

Gross Negligence – Or Is It Fraud?

Legalese On

GENERAL DISCLAIMER FOR ALL PAGES AND POSTS

Note: The following, and the information on any and all other posts and pages by me about General Manager Joe Thomas, GGRC, RML and /or the Board of Directors and its members, or any related topics, are my personal opinions based on my ongoing investigation into the actions and inactions of the GGRC and RML Board of Directors and / or Joe Thomas, General Manager.

While I believe these allegations to be true based on my objective analysis, these opinions remain as only allegations until I, or others, prove things in court.

My goal is to offer all owners all the information and evidence that I have available so that everyone can reach their own conclusions.

Legalese - And Powered Wig - Off

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Every Dollar You Pay For Deer Ridge Is The WRONG Amount!

Please read the various posts here on this Deer Ridge Owners Blog - and see my evidence and analysis which I believe shows conclusively that EVERY dollar of HOA Fees, EVERY dollar EVERY special assessment, EVERY water bill and cable TV sent out for YEARS to ALL Deer Ridge Owners has been wrong!

In many cases at least ONE THIRD of ALL owners have been GROSSLY overcharged. My calculations show that I have been overcharged more than TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in the past 50 months I've owned at Deer Ridge.

The Board has been WRONGLY and arbitrarily ignoring the requirements of the Master Deed and the Bylaws for YEARS.

If my analysis is correct, the Board has zero choice. They MUST abide by the Master Deed Percentages.

But they haven’t.

However, if the Board knowingly ignored the clear directives of the Master Deed and the Bylaws when allocating costs to various unit types, and overcharging certain unit types on a regular basis, my opinion is that the Board and Joe Thomas may have acted fraudulently.

If they have not been fraudulent, then they have been, at the very least, grossly negligent.

Read the various blog postings - and judge for yourself.

Please Register To Log In And Leave Your Comments

Please register first - so you can participate in the discussions by making comments that reflect YOUR opinion.

When you register, please include your unit number so we can confirm you are really an owner!

You are welcome to submit as many comments as you want on any of the topics - or even on a new topic. This is the time and the place to finally have YOUR voice heard with regard to your investment at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.

I would ask that you include your Deer Ridge unit number at the end of each of your posts so other owners get to know you - however, it is not required. I understand some owners may want anonymity for a variety of reasons - but I will need you to show me that you are an owner.

I may post non-owner comments from time to time if I believe they add to the discussion. When this happens I will note that it is a non-owner comment.

Bear in mind, any and all comments you make here can be seen by all one billion folks on the Internet, worldwide!

Thanks!

"We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert." — J. Robert Oppenheimer. This includes the Board of Directors of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.


Are You Being Sued By Deer Ridge Too?

If you have not paid the Asinine Assessment for Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, you probably have already been sued by Joe Thomas and the rest of the Gang of Six.
In addition to their specious $1 million lawsuit against me, I have also been served with a Sessions Court suit for the non-payment of the assessment [...]

Gatlinburg, Tennessee Home Owners Association Files $1 Million Lawsuit Against Blog Author and Property Owner

UPDATE:  We have now filed a comprehensive $3 Million counter suit against GGRC, Joe Thomas and each board member, individually.  Click $3 Million Lawsuit for details. 

The GGRC Board for Deer Ridge Mountain Resort has filed a $1 million lawsuit against me.
They are ready to spend tens of thousand of OUR dollars in their attempt [...]

Did You Get A GGRC * Suspension of Membership * On Deer Ridge?

Did you get a letter in the mail from GGRC regarding your “Suspension of Membership” on Deer Ridge?
If so, don’t let them intimidate you with their threats.  Don’t let them illegally take away YOUR rights as an owner!
A LOT of owners are refusing to pay this illegitimate “special assessment.”  So, a lot of other owners [...]

Employee Joey and The Board - Trying Desperately To Hide How Few Are Paying The Asinine Assessment

Joey and the “board” are running scared – scared that the owners will all find out just how few of them are paying their illegitimate Asinine Assessment.
Joey and the “board”are trying all they can to block both Neil and I from having access to the GGRC books and records that the laws of the State [...]

Request To View Deer Ridge Administrator's Books in Accordance with 66-27-113

This is an open letter that was emailed today to Luther Parker, Joe Thomas and the rest of the “board.”
Other owners have been requesting this information and getting the usual Deer Ridge runaround with the stupid and childish games of Joe Thomas.  Based on our initial contacts, we have the distinct impression that the Attorney [...]

Deer Ridge Board: Official Notice - I Refuse To Pay Invalid Special Assessment

The following letter was certified mailed, emailed, faxed and hand delivered to Luther Parker’s home, the GGRC’s attorney’s office and the Deer Ridge office.
You get to decide what is right for you with regard to the “special” assessment – but this is my position and I am ready to fight Joe Thomas, Luther Parker and [...]

Do NOT Make Your Deer Ridge March 1st Assessment Payment - It Is NOT A Valid Assessment

I strongly recommend you do NOT make your March 1, 2010 OR your 2011 “special” assessment payments to Deer Ridge.
Based on an independent legal counsel review of our Master Deed and Bylaws, his legal opinion is that this “special” Deer Ridge assessment is invalid for at least FOUR reasons:

The GGRC Master Deed and Bylaws do NOT [...]

Independent Legal Opinion: GGRC Board Guilty Of Numerous Violations / $353,500 Assessment Is Null And Void

Independent Legal Opinion:   GGRC “Board” Guilty Of Numerous Violations / $353,500 Assessment Is Null And Void
The following is a copy of an email sent to Luther Parker, other “board” members and Joe Thomas on February 18, 2010 describing the legal findings of a real estate law firm concerning Gatlinburg Golf and Racquet Club – GGRC [...]

Deer Ridge Board Abuse Of Power Continues - Vote For Walkways Improperly Done

Once again, the Deer Ridge Board continues its abuse of power by directly violating the Master Deed with respect to the vote on the walkway railings on February 6, 2010.
The First Phase Vote
Neil and I attended the Special Meeting for the Walkway Railing vote.  The ending ballots by owners were 77% in favor.  This means [...]

Knoxville Law Firm Hired - Retainer Paid

We have just hired an established real estate-focused law firm in Knoxville to begin our legal pursuits against GGRC, Joe Thomas and the current Board of Directors of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
We have already paid the necessary retainer – so watch this blog closely for upcoming developments.
Do YOU believe that ALL owners of Deer Ridge [...]

Deer Ridge Mountain Resort: Who IS Responsible For Multiple Violations of Article XII of the Master Deed?

The following was part of my December 4th email I sent in response to Joe Thomas‘ email at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.  The brackets from this comment are so clear on this point, I thought it deserved its own posting.
Joe,
With the long running untrustworthy track record of you and the board when it comes to [...]

FBI - Official Request Made to Investigate Alleged Criminal Activity By Deer Ridge Manager And Board

Today, I officially filed the following complaint and request for criminal investigation with the FBI regarding Deer Ridge Mountain Resort and the GGRC HOA.
After the last “board” meeting, I, along with several other owners, are totally fed up with the board not providing copies of all books and records that we all deserve.  Based on [...]

Lawsuit Against Deer Ridge GGRC Inevitable And Moving Forward - Despite Gains At Board Meeting

On the advice of an attorney, we waited – wanting to see what might happen during the board meeting.  Now that we know, we have no choice but to continue to aggressively pursue our lawsuit against GGRC, et al.
In spite of some good gains we made for the benefit of all Deer Ridge owners during [...]

Six Weeks Old - Some Blog Statistics - And A Legal Update

Some Blog Statistics
I started this Deer Ridge Owners Blog about six weeks ago.
During that time, we have had:

38 posts with 82 comments, six pages and 20 different categories.  (I am getting a LOT of other, mostly encouraging, email from owners and others who support our cause – but who prefer, currently, to remain anonymous.)
We have [...]

We Are * In Play * - As They Say On Wall St. - Attorney Contacts Commenced For Deer Ridge HOA Lawsuit

The dance has begun.   I contacted 28 area law firms today.
These were ones where I checked out their web sites, their areas of practice, etc. to help make sure there  is a mutual match between their focal points and our specific needs.  It’s a slow process – but one that I hope will help us [...]

Seeking Legal Representation - RFP - HOA Lawsuits

*****  Major News Flash! ***** *****  Major News Flash! ***** *****  Major News Flash! *****
The following is a standard, automated email that I plan on sending to 200-400 law firms in Knox, Blount and Sevier Counties with the goal of soliciting the best legal representation in our upcoming class action lawsuits concerning Deer Ridge Mountain [...]

Class-Action Lawsuits - Coming Soon To A HOA Near You

We have pretty much decided that Small Claims Court is, well, too small…for all of our claims we keep uncovering at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.
Based on our research, we are now aggressively pursuing either one and probably two class-action lawsuits against GGRC, RML, and individuals who we believe have been guilty of either gross negligence [...]

Open Letter to Deer Ridge Board: Lawsuit Being Prepared Against GGRC and RML

Luther,
Yesterday, I received the below email from Employee Joe Thomas regarding maintenance on our unit at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort – indicating that:

“At this time, due to reduced staffing in our maintenance department and
their duties & responsibilities to the GGRC common area and the RML
Participants, I am unable to honor your current request [...]

Need To File Small Claims Court Action In Sevier County, Tennessee?

If you need to file suit against someone or some homeowner’s association or property management company, or “whatever” in Sevier County, Tennessee, then note the new addition to “Documents You Can Download.”
There, you can immediately download the form necessary to file a Small Claims Court lawsuit with the General Sessions Court:
Judicial Officials
Gen Sessions Judge:   [...]

HOA Fees At Deer Ridge Mountain Resort - Highest In The Gatlinburg Area?

Our fees for our unit went up to $270 from $235 per month in 2008.  I am convinced that the total increase was a hidden fee to support the always unprofitable RML operation – which offers me and other non-RML users a ZERO benefit.
Actually, it is worse than that – I wish it were only [...]

Why No Audio Recordings Of Board Meetings?

NOTE:  New Page Added At Top Of Blog – Click I Want To Hear What REALLY Happens! to hear the quality of a sample recording with the proposed recorder.
Why is the Board sooooo dead set against having audio recordings of all Board meetings made available to all owners to hear?

I personally have the Olympus DS-30 [...]

Initial Thoughts About The Asinine Assessment

Just some initial thoughts about the asinine assessment letter sent out by Luther:
The assessment is based on VERY rounded numbers…like EXACTLY $50,000 for “nuts and bolts” (that’s a LOT of nuts and bolts) which makes me think they don’t even have real bids…PLUS…the “contingency” is about $400 a unit on the current assessment….that is huge…and [...]