Mission Springs Water District estimated bills $225K class action settlement

Mission Springs agreed to a $225,000 settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming it charged water district customers based on estimated usage instead of metered water use.

The settlement benefits consumers who were billed and/or paid any amount to the Mission Springs Water District between March 6, 2019, and May 18, 2022, for water service based on usage estimates, as opposed to operational metered water use.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim the water district charged customers for estimated water usage instead of the actual water use determined by meter readings. As a result, consumers were allegedly charged too much for water services.

Mission Springs Water District provides water services to Desert Hot Springs, California, and the surrounding areas.

Mission Springs hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $225,000 class action settlement to resolve these allegations.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive a partial refund for past water bill payments. 

Payments will be calculated based on the amount class members paid in “Tier 2” or estimated water service rates. For example, if a class member paid a Tier 2 rate of $3 per HCF (hundred cubic feet) unit for 10 HCF units of water (for a total of $30) instead of a Tier 1 rate of $2 per HCF unit (for a total of $20 for 10 HCF), they could receive a payment of $10. 

Current Mission Springs Water District customers will receive their settlement benefit as a credit on future water bills. Former Mission Springs customers will receive their share of the settlement fund as a check.

The deadline for exclusion is Jan. 30, 2022. The deadline for objection is Feb. 23, 2023.

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for March 15, 2023.

No claim form is required to benefit from the settlement. Class members who do not exclude themselves will automatically receive settlement benefits.

Who’s Eligible

Consumers who were billed and/or paid any amount to the Mission Springs Water District between March 6, 2019, and May 18, 2022, for water service based on usage estimates, as opposed to operational metered water use.

Potential Award

Varies.

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Exclusion Deadline

01/30/2023

Case Name

Padilla, et al. v. Mission Springs Water District, Case No. RIC2003782, in the California Superior Court for Riverside County

Final Hearing

03/15/2023

Settlement Website

mswdclassactionsettlement.com 

Claims Administrator

Padilla et al v. Mission Springs Water District
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799
[email protected]
866-603-4665

Class Counsel

Jeffery Lee Costell
Joshua S. Stambaugh
COSTELL & ADELSON LAW CORP.

Defense Counsel

John O Pinkney
Thomas S Slovak 
SLOVAK BARON EMPEY MURPHY & PINKNEY LLP 

Michael G Colantuono
Matthew C Slentz
COLANTUONO, HIGHSMITH & WHEATLEY PC