Legal standing for associations denied

A bill aiming to give community and homeowner associations legal standing in state court ? and the potential power to challenge unpopular development proposals ? died in a House committee Monday, lawmakers said.

Supporters of the bill called its death disappointing but expected. Legislators said current state law, which requires lawsuits to name individual property owners who have a stake in the case, opens individuals to threats of countersuits if they don?t back off opposition.