Hertz Parking Violation Fee Class Action Settlement

A $2 million settlement has resolved class action claims that Hertz improperly charged its renters administrative or handling fees for parking violations.

Plaintiff James Pauley filed this Hertz class action lawsuit in November 2013. Pauley alleges that earlier that summer, he rented a car from a Hertz location in Atlanta. He received a parking ticket during that rental.

Pauley says he paid the parking ticket before its due date. Yet Hertz still charged him an administrative fee through its parking violations processor, American Traffic Solutions. By doing so, Pauley claims, Hertz violates its own rental agreement.

After a detour to federal court and back to state court, then several rounds of discovery and preliminary motions, the parties began working on a settlement agreement in September 2016. With the help of a mediator and through several subsequent negotiations, the parties reached the current Hertz class action settlement and submitted it to the court for approval. Circuit Court Judge Darrell Pratt granted preliminary approval of the settlement in August 2017.

Under terms of the Hertz class action settlement, Hertz will provide up to $2 million to compensate Class Members who submit valid and timely claims. The settlement fund will also cover class counsel’s attorney fees and the costs of administering the settlement.

Hertz continues to deny Pauley’s claims, arguing there is nothing wrong with the fees it charged. The settlement does not require Hertz to admit any fault, and the court has not made any decision on liability.

Claim Forms may be submitted by mail, email, or through the settlement administrator’s website. Claimants who want to exclude themselves from the settlement or object to the settlement’s terms may do so by filing a written request by Nov. 1, 2017.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement Class covers all persons who rented a car from Hertz in the U.S., were billed between April 1, 2008 and April 30, 2017 for an administrative or handling fee related to a parking ticket issued for the rental vehicle, paid that administrative or handling fee, paid the parking ticket on time, and did not receive any refund or adjustment for the administrative or handling fee.

Potential Award

$10 or $20

Class Members who provide documentation showing they paid their parking ticket on time will receive $20. Class Members who do not provide such documentation but whose claims are still determined to be valid will receive $10.

Proof of Purchase

In addition to the Claim Form, claimants must submit documentation showing they paid their parking ticket – such as a cancelled check, bank statement, credit card receipt, or credit card statement – or an explanation of why such documentation is not available and what effort the Class Member made to acquire the documentation.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Claim Form Deadline

11/30/2017

Case Name

Pauley v. Hertz Global Holdings Inc., et al., Case No. 13-C-236, in the Circuit Court of Wayne County, W.V.

Final Hearing

11/16/2017

Settlement Website

www.HertzParkingViolationFeeSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Hertz Parking Violation Fee Settlement
c/o Dahl Administration
PO Box 3614
Minneapolis, MN 55403-0614
1-866-238-8360
info@HertzParkingViolationFeeSettlement.com

Class Counsel

Anthony J. Majestro
POWELL & MAJESTRO PLLC

Timothy C. Bailey
BAILEY JAVINS & CARTER LC

Defense Counsel

Michael J. Farrell
FARRELL WHITE & LEGG PLLC

Ross B. Bricker
John F. Ward, Jr.
David C. Layden
JENNER & BLOCK LLP