Massachusetts Equity Residential Security Deposit Class Action Settlement

Equity Residential Management LLC has agreed to pay $908,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to properly take funds from tenants’ security deposits according to the process set forth under the Massachusetts Security Deposit Law.

If you are a former tenant or occupant of a Massachusetts property managed by Equity and you received a statement of deposit from Equity that listed charges against your security deposit for physical damage to the apartment, you may be entitled to benefits from the Equity Residential Management class action settlement.

According to the Equity class action lawsuit, Equity provided statements of deposit to former tenants that listed charges taken against their security deposits but were not signed under the penalty of perjury. Further, the plaintiff alleges that the statements of deposit did not adequately describe the damages to the apartment for which the charges were assessed and that Equity charged the tenants’ security deposits for cleaning charges.

These acts and omissions violated the Massachusetts Security Deposit Law, the Equity class action lawsuit says.

Equity denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the security deposit class action lawsuit to avoid the uncertainty and cost of further litigation.

The Equity Residential Management class action settlement was preliminarily approved on Jan. 25, 2018.

Class Members who would like to opt out of or object to the Equity Residential Management settlement must do so no later than April 18, 2018.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members of the Equity class action lawsuit include anyone who received a statement of deposit from Equity that listed charges against your security deposit for physical damage to the apartment and that was not signed under the pains and penalties of perjury, and who did not receive the entire security deposit back from Equity within 30 days of the end of tenancy or when the tenant vacated the apartment.

NOTE: If multiple residents lived in the same apartment, each adult may file a Claim Form.

Potential Award

Up to $3,000.

The amount of the award will depend on several factors including the total number of timely and valid claims filed, the value of those claims, and the total amount available in the settlement fund to pay settlement claims.

Proof of Purchase

Claimants must provide their name, mailing address, phone number, the unit number of the Equity apartment in which they lived and the beginning and ending dates of their tenancy.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

5/29/2018

Case Name

Scott Phillips v. Equity Residential Management LLC, Case No. 13-12092-RWZ, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Final Hearing

5/2/2018

Settlement Website

www.PhillipsvEquitySettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Phillips v. Equity Residential Management LLC
c/o Dahl Administration LLC
P.O. Box 3614
Minneapolis, MN 55403-0614
1-888-755-9508
info@PhillipsvEquitySettlement.com

Class Counsel

PASTOR LAW OFFICE LLP

LEONARD LAW OFFICE PC

LAW OFFICES OF JOSHUA N. GARICK PC

Defense Counsel

BAKER & HOSTETLER LLP