Bio
Arnold Calabrese serves as Vice-Chair of Becker’s New Jersey Community Association Practice Group and is a member of the Construction Law & Litigation team. He has concentrated his practice on the representation of community associations for over 36 years. Arnold is highly recognized for his advocacy on behalf of his clients throughout New Jersey, especially in the areas of construction defect and transition litigation (see njconstructiondefectlaw.com), as well as general representation and debt collection services.
His clients rely on him to provide advice and creative solutions to problems commonly affecting community associations. Arnold has extensive experience in complex transition construction defect litigation. During his career he has successfully resolved over 45 transition disputes, recovering more than sixty million dollars ($60,000,000.00) for his clients. In 2017, he obtained a settlement for his condominium client in Secaucus, NJ, valued at over $18.5 million which settlement was used to fully repair the client’s building facade.
Arnold frequently lectures on community association topics, including DCA regulations, Radburn Law, Electric Vehicle Chargers, Elections and Board Member Training. He has also served as a mediator through the CAINJ mediation program.
Previously, Arnold was appointed the Chairman of the Plaintiff Association’s Steering Committee in NJ’s statewide fire retardant treated plywood litigation and was instrumental in achieving a successful model settlement for all plaintiff community associations in New Jersey. He continues to provide guidance and support to his community association clients.
EXPERIENCE
- $18.5 million dollar settlement for his condominium client in a multi-party transition litigation.
- Successfully litigated over 35 transition cases, that included disputes over building and site construction and design, as well as financial claims.
- Appellate experience includes overturning a lower court’s decision regarding a community association’s right to sell the property of a delinquent owner to satisfy its money judgment against such owner.
- Appointed Chairman of the Plaintiff Association’s Steering Committee during the statewide fire retardant treated (“FRT”) plywood litigation, and was instrumental in achieving a successful model settlement for all plaintiff associations in New Jersey.
RECOGNITION
- Equal Justice Medal for Exceptional Pro Bono Service 2022, Legal Services of New Jersey.
PROFESSIONAL / COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
- Member of the Community Association Institute (CAI)
- Certified Mediator – New Jersey Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI‑NJ)
- Member of the New Jersey Bar Association
PRESENTATIONS & ARTICLES
- Presenter, “Electric Vehicle Chargers Are Coming To Your Community. Are You Ready?” 2023
- Presenter, “Contract Indemnifications” 2022
- Presenter, “Attorney Ethics” 2021
- Presenter, “2020 Elections and Display of Signs in Community Associations” 2020
- Presenter, “DCA’s New Regulations: How Do We Cope” 2020
- Presenter, “Radburn History and Legislation” 2019
- Author, “5 Feet or 10 Feet, Which Is It? The Confusion Within The New Jersey Fire Code Regarding Portable Propane BBQ Grills” Becker New Jersey Condo Blog 2019
- Presenter, “Community Association Clubs: Challenges and Perspectives” 2019
- Author, “Cladding is More Than Skin Deep, Things to Consider Before deciding to Change the Cladding on your Community’s Buildings.” Community Trends January 2019