Orem City Solar Panel Permits--Draft Letter-3

Orem City Solar Panel Permits--Draft Letter-3

January 5, 2019 (actually sent to some people)

Subject: Possible legal action against Orem City concerning denied solar panel permits

Fellow Orem resident,

I think we have something in common. Back in October 2017, Orem City denied me a solar panel building permit for what I think was an improper, even silly, reason.  At least 8 other local cities do not do this sort of thing. I am interested in overcoming that denial and getting a permit issued.  Ideally, I can solve my personal problem and help solve the same problem for you and for the other 250 homeowners in Orem who have had solar permits denied for similar reasons in the past 5 years.

I have spent an entire year studying this problem, and I think we can solve it fairly inexpensively and perhaps even come out a little bit ahead on the money, if we cooperate a little bit. This could involve either one big class-action lawsuit involving up to 250 people, or up to 250 small lawsuits (plus another possible 250 cases for title insurance issues). I would provide most of the legal research and administrative work and get some local attorney to help me on actual court filings. I have already started my own lawsuit, and hopefully, we will learn from that experience and can apply it on behalf of everyone else.

Many people have title insurance to help protect against this kind of denial of permits by the city for surprise reasons, including myself. Those insurance policies sometimes offer up to $25,000 to either help solve the problem or to reimburse the owner. If you have the right kind of insurance, this could offer some relief and should be explored first.

How did I get your address?

Orem city records show that you or someone at this address was denied a solar panel building permit within the last five years. The city supplied only the address, but not the names of the people involved, or their telephone or e-mail contact information. That lack of contact information is what makes this "dear resident" mailing necessary. In order to do a status check on the about 250 Orem residents who had their solar panel building applications denied, I looked up the names of current owners on Utah County land records, but they may not be accurate for this case since these denials go back up to 5 years.

If you are still interested in solar panels (or at least are irritated by the city's misbehavior) please let me know by email, or some other way, at:

OremSolarPanels@gmail.com

You can also call me at 801-615-9032

I have written a much longer letter giving more detail, which I hope can also serve as a Frequently Asked Questions entry.  You can see this at:

OremSolarPanels.blogspot.com

I expect to add court-related documents there in the future, plus include news updates.

You can comment there if you wish, if you have a gmail account.

It costs nothing right now to let me know of your continuing interest in solar panels, but we may need to discuss legal costs later on, although I hope there is a way to minimize or avoid costs. It costs at least $360 to file a case, so that is one financial reference point.

I would appreciate hearing from you in some form regardless of your situation or intentions or plans concerning solar panels, so that I can be sure I have all the information about possible participants and beneficiaries in this project. If you can confirm all your contact information, including a telephone number, that would also be helpful.

Hoping for better government   (and an Orem City that is more friendly to solar panels),

Kent Huff

OremSolarPanels@gmail.com or

kent.huff@gmail.com

Cell: 801-615-9032

139 West 1720 North, Orem, Utah  84057

Computer consultant, author, JD