Lohman Property Management Co. fees $650K class action settlement

A $650,000 class action lawsuit settlement has been reached with Lohman Property Management over claims the landlords did not communicate claims for security deposits to their tenants and charged fees that were not part of the contracts the company had with renters. 

The settlement includes anyone in Florida who entered into a lease agreement for apartments at Eagle Gardens of Jacksonville, Arlington Eagle, Eagle Court, Eagle Landing of Orlando, Eagle Point of Daytona, Eagle Pointe I, Eagle Pointe II, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Summit, Jacksonville Village Apartments, Orlando on the Lake Apartments and Orlando Sky and had any portion of their security deposit retained after they moved out.

In the class action lawsuit, plaintiff Shakia Brown claimed the owner/manager of the Camelot Gardens Apartments violated the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act by failing to properly send notice by certified mail before taking possession of Brown’s security deposits. The plaintiff also challenged the imposition of payment fees when payments were paid by means other than personal check. 

The plaintiff brought the class action under the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, or FRLTA. The lawsuit claims the defendants did not issue communications regarding damages and did not return Brown’s security deposit within the 15 days as required by FRLTA. 

The landlord denies wrongdoing, and the defendant said it has agreed to settle claims rather than face the risk of trial.

Lohman is property management services company and oversees 13 properties, which could include up to 2,700 people. 

For all class members who do not opt out of the settlement, Lohman will provide a payment equal to 70% of each class member’s security deposit that was retained by the defendants.

The defendants also agreed to release and forgo the collection of any amounts they contend class members still owe due to damage to the apartments, as well as past-due rent fees, late fees, and pet and cleaning fees. There is approximately $6 million allegedly due to the landlord that will be terminated under the settlement.

Members of the class will automatically receive a payment unless they opt out of the Lohman Property Management fees class action lawsuit settlement.

Those wishing to be excluded from the class may send a written request to the settlement administrator no later than Aug. 13, 2023. Those who would like to object may send a written notice to class counsel no later than Aug. 13, 2023.

The court will hold a final fairness hearing Aug. 23, 2023.

Class members do not need to do anything to benefit from the settlement. 

Who’s Eligible

The settlement class is made up of anyone in Florida who entered into a lease agreement for apartments at Eagle Gardens of Jacksonville, Arlington Eagle, Eagle Court, Eagle Landing of Orlando, Eagle Point of Daytona, Eagle Pointe I, Eagle Pointe II, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Summit, Jacksonville Village Apartments, Orlando on the Lake Apartments and Orlando Sky and had any portion of their security deposit retained after they moved out.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Exclusion Deadline

08/13/2023

Case Name

Shakia Brown, et al. v. Lohman Property Management Co. LLC, et al., Case No. 16-2018-CA-008274, in the civil division of the Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit in and for Duval County, Florida

Final Hearing

08/23/2023

Settlement Website

LohmanSecurityDepositSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Exclusion to Brown v. Lohman Property
c/o Settlement Administrator
PO Box 23459
Jacksonville, FL  32241-3459

Class Counsel

Brian W Warwick
Mathew Peterson
VARNELL & WARWICK PA

Glenn Banner
LAW OFFICE OF GLENN S. BANNER PA

Max Story
MAX STORY PA

Adam Thoresen
JACKSONVILLE AREA LEGAL AID

Defense Counsel

S Grier Wells
Gray Robinson