Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Perhaps; it'd depend upon when you sold, what the assessment is intended to cover (past expenditures, funding of future costs, etc.), and perhaps the language in the HOA instruments and rules to which you were a party. You might also want to talk with the escrow firm that handled your sale, and possibly review the documentation covering your sale.

What Mr. Whipple is trying to say, is there's no way to tell without reviewing the relevant documents - including your sale documents, your escrow documents and your HOA documents. You'll need to see a lawyer in person.