Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has cleared the way for about 20,000 rent-regulated tenants in New York City to seek compensation individually from their landlord for rent overcharges and other complaints.
The court paved the way for the rent-regulated tenants by ruling that the 2011 settlement of tenants’ class action lawsuit against the Pinnacle Group, a large New York landlord, was fair, reasonable and adequate. The tenants accused the company of engaging in a conspiracy to fraudulently increase rents in more than 400 buildings that it owned in New York City.
The settlement was questioned by a breakaway group of tenants and asked that the original settlement be overturned because it excluded certain types of claims which are worth millions than what Pinnacle agreed to be liable for.
The court decided that there is no need to renegotiate the agreement or to even go to a new trial. It also concluded that all class members benefited from the new procedures and practices that Pinnacle agreed to follow when it comes to rent increases and handling evictions. A court-appointed administrator was also set in place to hear individual complaints on illegal rents, harassment and to determine compensation.
Reports are placing the claims to reach the amount of $10 million but it will all depend on how many tenants would file for individual compensation.
The class action lawsuit claimed that the company tried to push tenants out of their rent-regulated apartments with tactics like overcharging on rent, allowing buildings to fall into disrepair and harassing tenants. The lawsuit also also said that Pinnacle Group’s conduct violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) as well as the New York State Consumer Protection Act.
The plaintiffs are represented by: Richard F. Levy, Ronald M. Daignault, Katya Jestin, Susan J. Kohlmann, Chinh Q. Le, Carletta F. Higginson, Elizabeth Valentina, and Jenner & Block LLP.
This case is Charrons et al. v. Pinnacle Group NY LLC, et al., 07-6316 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
9 thoughts onCourt Upholds 2011 Settlement Covering 20,000 NYC Renters
Rented in New York for many years prior to buying my house. I believe I am definitely a victim of this Class Action Suit.
I lived in new York for eight months and had a rent increase of 400 month I would like a claim form
#7 Delvia Evans need a claim form????
stop crying u fkn babies
I still live in New York and I have been charged over $450 in fees court fees and still haven’t had the landlord give heating or water.
I no longer live in new york. But i remember my rent increase of an extre $300 per month. After 6 months i could no longer afford rent. I was on the streets for 3 months before i made it to Oklahoma, where i can afford to live…how do i make a claim on losing everything and being homeless? Smh
Claim Form???
I would like this claim form as soon as possible.
i would like to recieve a weekly newsletter with this settlements claim form asap.