If You Were a Tenant of Defendants’ Properties in the State of California at any time from December 10, 2014, to May 16, 2022, and You Paid One or More Late Rental Fee(s), This Class Action Settlement May Affect Your Rights.
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Important Dates
- A Settlement has been reached with Geoffrey H. Palmer, Geoffrey H. Palmer dba G.H. Palmer Associates, and GHP Management Corporation (collectively, “Defendants”) in a class action lawsuit claiming that the Defendants have a policy and practice of collecting flat late fees of $75 for rent payments received three or more days late that is in violation of California law. Defendants deny the allegations, and the Court did not issue a final decision in favor of either Plaintiff or Defendants. Instead, the parties have agreed to a Settlement to avoid the expense, delay, and risk of continued litigation.
- The Settlement will result in the creation of a $1,750,000 Settlement Fund for the benefit of the Class. After making deductions for settlement administration expenses, any court approved service payment to the Class Representative and court approved attorneys’ fees and expenses to Class Counsel, the remaining net Settlement Fund will be used to satisfy payments to Class Members (called “Settlement Shares”).
- You are a “Class Member” and are eligible for relief from the Settlement Fund if you fall within the following Class definition:
- All tenants of Defendants’ properties in the State of California from December 10, 2014, to May 16, 2022, who were signatories to a lease at the time one or more Late Fees were paid as the result of untimely rent payments for their rent.
- This is the definition of the Class that is being used by the Court to determine who is a member of the Class. Defendants’ properties include the following properties in California: The Broadway Palace (North and South), Los Angeles, CA; Canyon County Villas, Santa Clarita, CA; Colony Townhomes, Santa Clarita, CA; The DaVinci, Los Angeles, CA; Diamond Park, Santa Clarita, CA; The Lorenzo, Los Angeles, CA; The Medici, Los Angeles, CA; The Orsini (I, II, III), Los Angeles, CA; Park Sierra, Santa Clarita, CA; Pasadena Park Place, Los Angeles, CA; Paseos Ontario, Ontario, CA; The Paseos at Montclair North, Montclair, CA; The Piero (I and II), Los Angeles, CA; Riverpark, Santa Clarita, CA; River Ranch Townhomes & Apartments, Santa Clarita, CA; Sand Canyon Ranch, Santa Clarita, CA; Sand Canyon Villas & Townhomes, Santa Clarita, CA; The Skyline Terrace, Los Angeles, CA; Summit at Warner Center, Woodland Hills, CA; The Terrace, Santa Clarita, CA; Upland Village Green, Upland, CA; The Village, Santa Clarita, CA; The Visconti, Los Angeles, CA.
- All tenants of Defendants’ properties in the State of California from December 10, 2014, to May 16, 2022, who were signatories to a lease at the time one or more Late Fees were paid as the result of untimely rent payments for their rent.
READ THE NOTICE CAREFULLY BECAUSE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED.
| SUMMARY OF YOUR OPTIONS | |
|---|---|
| DO NOTHING | If you are a Class Member and do nothing, you will receive an Initial Settlement Share by physical check to the last known address for you in Defendants’ records, if the Settlement is approved and becomes final. However, you will give up your right to sue the Defendants and any Released Parties about the claims resolved by this Settlement. This check will be valid for 60 days. If you do not cash your check, the funds will be returned to the Settlement Fund and redistributed to Class Members whose Initial Settlement Shares were successfully paid or negotiated. After this Second Distribution, any residual funds will go to the California State Controller’s Office for Unclaimed Property. |
| SUBMIT A PAYMENT METHOD ELECTION FORM | If you are a Class Member, you may submit a Payment Method Election Form by October 30, 2023 electing the method to receive your Initial Settlement Share if the Settlement is approved and becomes final. Submitting a Payment Election Form also will make you eligible for a potential Second Settlement Share, to be paid via the same method as the Initial Settlement Share, if sufficient funds remain in the Settlement Fund after payment of all Initial Settlement Shares. If you do not fill out a Payment Election Form you will automatically receive your share of the Settlement Fund via mailed check, and you will not be eligible for a Second Settlement Share. You will be bound by the Settlement and give up certain rights. Deadline: October 30, 2023 (This new date only applies if you were sent a notice via mail or email in August/September of 2023. If you received a notice in December 2022/January 2023, then your deadline has already passed). |
| EXCLUDE YOURSELF (OPT OUT) FROM THE SETTLEMENT | If you do not want to be included in the Settlement or receive a payment from it, you can Opt Out of the Settlement by submitting a valid written request for exclusion to the Settlement Administrator. If you Opt Out of the Settlement you will keep your right to sue the Defendants and any Released Parties about the claims resolved by this Settlement. Deadline: October 30, 2023 (This new date only applies if you were sent a notice via mail or email in August/September of 2023. If you received a notice in December 2022/January 2023, then your deadline has already passed). |
| OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT | If you stay in the Settlement (do not opt out) you may object to it or any of its terms by writing to the attorneys for the parties and the Settlement Administrator. If you object, you will automatically receive the benefits from this Settlement if it is approved and becomes final and you will give up your right to sue the Defendants and any Released Parties about the claims resolved by this Settlement. Deadline: October 30, 2023 (This new date only applies if you were sent a notice via mail or email in August/September of 2023. If you received a notice in December 2022/January 2023, then your deadline has already passed). |
| GO TO A HEARING | You may attend and ask to speak at a hearing on the fairness of the Settlement. You may be heard at the Fairness Hearing regardless of whether you complied with any written objection procedures. As of April 4, 2022, Los Angeles Superior Court will no longer mandate masks, however they are strongly recommended inside the courthouse in alignment with LA County Public Health Guidance. The social distancing requirement was rescinded on June 28, 2021. The Final Approval Hearing will be held on December 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. PT. |
The Court supervising this case has granted Preliminary Approval to the Settlement, but must still decide whether to grant Final Approval before any payments are made. The Fairness Hearing to decide whether to grant Final Approval of the Settlement will take place on December 28, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. PT.