Woodland Park Preexisting Lease Class Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did I receive a Notice?
- What is the lawsuit about?
- What is a class action and who is involved?
- What are the Plaintiffs asking for?
- Is there any money available now?
- Which Class am I in?
- Can I be part of this lawsuit?
- I’m still not sure if I am included.
- What happens if I do nothing at all?
- Why would I ask to be excluded?
- What is the deadline to ask to be excluded?
- Do I have a lawyer in this case?
- Should I get my own lawyer?
- How will Class Counsel get paid?
- What happens next in the lawsuit?
- Do I have to come to the trial?
- Will I get money after the trial?
- How can I get additional information?
- Why did I receive a Notice?
Equity Residential’s records show that you had a non-EQR lease while living at the “Woodland Park” property in East Palo Alto, California, when it was owned by Equity Residential from December 1, 2011 to February 2016, and were charged at least one $50 late fee during that time. The Court has allowed, or “certified,” a class action lawsuit on behalf of tenants who were charged such fees. You have legal rights and options that you may exercise before the Court holds a trial. A trial may be necessary to decide whether the claims being made against Equity Residential are valid. The Honorable Jeffrey S. White, a Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, is overseeing this lawsuit. The case is called Munguia-Brown, et al., v. Equity Residential, et al., Case No. 4:16-cv-01225-JSW-MEJ (N.D. Cal.).
Top - What is the lawsuit about?
The lawsuit is about whether the late fees that Equity Residential and its subsidiaries charge to tenants in California comply with California law. Specifically, Plaintiffs claim that Equity Residential violated California Civil Code Section 1671(d), which governs certain fees in residential leases. Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the late fee amount was not based upon a reasonable endeavor by Equity Residential to estimate and recover the actual costs incurred when tenants pay their rent late. Defendants contend that the late fee policy is lawful. The Court has not yet decided whether Equity Residential violated the law.
You can read the Plaintiffs’ Complaint at HERE. (The case also includes a separate class that covers tenants in California who were charged late fees under Equity Residential’s standard lease, which specifies a late of 5% of the tenant’s outstanding balance or $50, whichever is greater.)
Top - What is a class action and who is involved?
In class action lawsuits, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. The people together are a “Class” or “Class Members.” The Class Representatives are called the Plaintiffs. The persons or entities they sue (in this case, Equity Residential and certain of its subsidiaries) are called the Defendants. One court resolves the issues for all Class Members. The Court has appointed the Plaintiffs’ lawyers (names and contact information below) to represent the Class.
Top - What are the Plaintiffs asking for?
The Plaintiffs are asking the Court to find that Equity Residential’s policy of charging a flat $50 late fee to tenants on pre-existing leases is unlawful, and to require Equity Residential to return all late fees that the Woodland Park tenants paid under that policy. Equity Residential will have an opportunity to try to reduce the amount that it must return by the amount of any “actual costs” it can prove it incurred as a result of Class Members’ late payments of rent. Equity Residential cannot recover money from Class Members as a result of this lawsuit.
Plaintiffs also seek recovery of attorneys’ fees, the costs of bringing the lawsuit, and interest. The Court has not yet ruled on the merits of any of the positions taken by Plaintiffs or Equity Residential.
Top - Is there any money available now?
No money is available now because the Court has not yet decided whether Equity Residential did anything wrong, and the parties have not settled the case. There is no guarantee that money or benefits will ever be obtained as a result of this case. If they are, you will be notified, and will be given information about any monetary award to which you may be entitled.
Top - Which Class am I in?
This case covers two classes of tenants who were subject to two different late fee policies.
You received the Woodland Park Notice because you are a potential member of the “Woodland Park Preexisting Lease Class,” which consists of tenants who had non-EQR leases while living at the Woodland Park Property in East Palo Alto, California when it was owned by Equity Residential from December 1, 2011 to February 2016 and who were charged at least one $50 late fee.
The second class consists of tenants who were subject to the late fee described in the standard Equity Residential lease: “5% of the outstanding balance, or $50, whichever is greater” between September 3, 2010 and October 23, 2017. This class is called the “Standard Late Fee Class.”
Top - Can I be part of this lawsuit?
If you received the Woodland Parks Notice, we believe you are a member of the Woodland Park Preexisting Lease Class. You will automatically be included as a member of this class unless you take affirmative steps to exclude yourself from this case. This class consists of people who: (1) lived at the Woodland Park property in East Palo Alto, California at any time when it was owned by Equity Residential between December 1, 2011 and February 2016; (2) were subject to a non-EQR lease from a prior landlord; and (3) were charged at least one $50 late fee.
Top - I’m still not sure if I am included.
If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can get free help by calling, writing, or emailing the lawyers in this case, at the phone number or addresses listed below in Question 12.
Top - What happens if I do nothing at all?
If you do nothing, you will automatically be included as a member of the Woodland Park Preexisting Lease Class, which means that you will keep the possibility of getting money from this lawsuit. If you remain part of the class and the Plaintiffs obtain money as a result of either a trial or a settlement, you will be notified about how to obtain any share to which you may be entitled. If you do nothing now, regardless of whether the Plaintiffs win or lose, you will not be able to sue the Defendants as part of any other lawsuit about the late fee charges at issue in this lawsuit. You will also be legally bound by all orders and judgments of the Court as to the Standard Late Fee Class. If Plaintiffs lose the case, you will not be penalized or have to pay anything to Equity Residential as a result.
Top - Why would I ask to be excluded?
You have the right to exclude yourself from this lawsuit. This is also called “opting out” of the class. If you exclude yourself, you won’t get any money from this lawsuit even if Plaintiffs obtain it as a result of a trial or settlement. You will keep the right to pursue your own claims with lawyers of your own choice, provided you pursue those claims within certain legal deadlines. If you do exclude yourself so that you can start your own lawsuit against Equity Residential, you should talk to your own lawyer right away to determine any deadlines you have.
To ask to be excluded, you must send an “Exclusion Request” in the form of a letter sent by mail stating that you want to be excluded from the Class in this case. The letter must include your name, address, telephone number, and signature. You must mail this letter postmarked by February 2, 2018 to the Claims Administrator at the following address:
Equity Residential Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 404041
Louisville KY, 40233-4041
Top - What is the deadline to ask to be excluded?
If you do not want to participate in the Woodland Park Preexisting Lease Class, then you must postmark the Exclusion Request letter by February 2, 2018.
Top - Do I have a lawyer in this case?
The Court appointed the Plaintiffs’ lawyers in this case to represent the Classes (“Class Counsel”). Those lawyers are: Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho, in Oakland, California; Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, California; and Nicholas & Tomasevic, LLP, in San Diego, California. The Court determined that these attorneys are qualified to represent the interests of the Classes in this lawsuit. More information about these firms, their practices, and their lawyers’ experience is available on their websites: www.gbdhlegal.com, www.clsepa.org, and www.nicholaslaw.org.
The following attorneys from the firms are handling the case, and you may contact them with any questions you have about the case:
Linda M. Dardarian, Esq.
William (Bill) Jhaveri-Weeks, Esq.
Megan Ryan, Esq.
Katharine Fisher, Esq.
GOLDSTEIN, BORGEN, DARDARIAN & HO
300 Lakeside Drive, Suite 1000
Oakland, CA 94612
(800) 245-6958
equitylatefees@gbdhlegal.comJason H. Tarricone, Esq.
Margaret McBride, Esq.
COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES IN EAST PALO ALTO
1861 Bay Road
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 326-6440Craig Nicholas, Esq.
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Alex Tomasevic, Esq.
Shaun Markley, Esq.
NICHOLAS & TOMASEVIC, LLP
225 Broadway, 19th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 325-0492
(619) 325-0496 - Should I get my own lawyer?
You may if you want, but you do not need to hire your own lawyer, because Class Counsel represent the Class of which you are a member. For example, you can hire a lawyer to appear in Court for you if you want someone other than Class Counsel to speak for you. If you hire your own lawyer, you will be responsible for the charges that lawyer requires you to pay for representing you.
Top - How will Class Counsel get paid?
If Plaintiffs prevail at trial, Class Counsel will ask the Court to require Equity Residential to pay their attorneys’ fees and expenses. If there is a settlement of this case, Class Counsel will request either that Defendants pay the fees and expenses, or that the Court allow a portion of the settlement fund to be used to pay attorneys’ fees and costs. Any such award of attorneys’ fees would be subject to Court approval. You will not have to pay Class Counsel any fees or expenses out of your own pocket.
Top - What happens next in the lawsuit?
Unless the case is resolved by a settlement or legal ruling, Class Counsel will have to prove the Plaintiffs’ claims and damages at a trial. If the Plaintiffs prevail, Defendants will have an opportunity to try to prove that damages should be reduced, or “offset,” by the “actual costs” Defendants have borne as a result of late payments by Class Members. Defendants cannot recover any money from you in this case. The trial has not been scheduled yet. It will take place in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612. During the trial, the Judge will hear all of the evidence to help him reach a decision about whether the Plaintiffs or Defendants are right about the claims in the lawsuit.
Top - Do I have to come to the trial?
You do not need to appear in court or otherwise participate in the trial to be a Class Member or to be eligible for a monetary recovery should the Plaintiffs prevail on their claims. However, it is possible that an extremely small percentage of the class members may be called to testify as a witness in either a deposition or a trial. You are welcome to attend any trial at your own expense.
Top - Will I get money after the trial?
If the Class obtains money or benefits as a result of a trial or settlement, members of the Class will be notified about how they may qualify to receive a portion of any money or benefits obtained. We do not know how long this will take.
Top - How can I get additional information?
You can view the Court documents HERE, where you will find the Court’s Order Certifying the Class, the Plaintiffs’ Complaint, and Defendants’ Answer to the Complaint. You may also contact Class Counsel at any time by calling, writing, or emailing them at the contact information in Question 12, above.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR WRITE THE JUDGE OR CLERK OF THE COURT. DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES TO CLASS COUNSEL OR AN ATTORNEY OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING.
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