03/28/24 | Court Appoints Hagen Berman Interim Class Counsel
In a March 28, 2024, order U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik appointed Hagens Berman interim class counsel, granting the authority to convene meetings of plaintiffs’ counsel, retain experts, lead settlement negotiations and more. “The Court concludes that such appointment will aid in achieving efficiency and economy in what is likely to be expensive and complicated litigation, and that such appointment will enhance fairness to all parties concerned, as well as the proposed class,” the order states.
Have you rented an apartment maintained by one of the property management companies listed below since September 2019? Attorneys are fighting an alleged rental price-fixing scheme, and you may have paid artificially inflated rent. Fill out the form to find out your rights »
Hagens Berman has filed a nationwide class-action lawsuit accusing 18 property management companies, as well as Yardi Systems Inc., of a rent price-fixing scheme. Renters may have been harmed by the following large residential real estate companies Alco Management Inc., Bridge Property Management LLC, Calibrate Property Management LLC, Clear Property Management LLC, Creekwood Property Corporation (Tonti Properties), Dalton Management Inc., HNN Associates LLC, Jones Lang Lasalle Incorporated (JLL), KRE Group Inc., LeFever Mattson, Manco Abbott Inc., Legacy Partners Inc., McWhinney Property Management LLC, Morguard Corporation, Pillar Properties LLC, Summit Management Services Inc., Towne Properties and Tribridge Residential LLC.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M AFFECTED?
Our antitrust attorneys believe these leasing companies colluded to artificially increase the price of rent, pricing leases above competitive levels algorithmically. In this alleged scheme, renters lose, and leases are adjusted to rates beyond what a free market would bear. We believe in upholding tenants’ rights.
The residential real estate companies under investigation maintain properties across the U.S. If your apartment is maintained by one of the following companies, or another large property management company, fill out the form to find out your rights »
- Alco Management Inc.
- Bridge Property Management LLC
- Calibrate Property Management LLC
- Clear Property Management LLC
- Creekwood Property Corporation (Tonti Properties)
- Dalton Management Inc.
- HNN Associates LLC
- Jones Lang Lasalle Incorporated (JLL)
- KRE Group Inc.
- LeFever Mattson
- Manco Abbott Inc.
- Legacy Partners Inc.
- McWhinney Property Management LLC
- Morguard Corporation
- Pillar Properties LLC
- Summit Management Services Inc.
- Towne Properties
- Tribridge Residential LLC
YOUR TENANT RIGHTS
Your rights as a renter include a fair price for your apartment, and we believe these companies have violated federal laws in artificially raising the price of rent across the nation. You may have rights under antitrust laws to compensation for your losses due to this scheme to allegedly artificially raise your rent.
RENTAL PRICE SCHEME EXPLAINED
Our legal team believes these leasing giants work together to increase lease prices for renters. Instead of independently pricing their units in response to normal market forces, they allegedly agreed to use an automated third-party pricing and data collection service — Yardi’s “RENTmaximizer” pricing software — to make unit-specific pricing decisions. Participating lessors thus allegedly coordinate to avoid price competition, forcing leases higher in a scheme designed to enrich lessors at renters’ expense.
HOW CAN A CLASS ACTION HELP?
Through a class-action lawsuit, individual renters can collectively bring claims against large corporations that would otherwise have the upper hand. A class-action lawsuit seeks to level the playing field, bringing strength to collective action to change corrupt practices. Though these measures do not bring immediate relief, they are a time-tested method of holding companies accountable for wrongdoing.
NATIONAL ANTITRUST LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is home to some of the most well-respected and successful lawyers representing plaintiffs in class actions, and the law firm has achieved more than $320 billion in settlements since its founding in 1993 in Seattle. Our legal team has taken on major institutions for fraudulent billing and predatory behavior, including in the mortgage market, in Big Tech, and against utility companies, product manufacturers and other negligent parties.
NO COST TO YOU
In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the class' legal team.
