A lawsuit on behalf of former Baltimore-area tenants in opposition to house administration firm Westminster Administration established vital protections in opposition to extreme late charges. The 5 tenants on this case are represented by BGL legal professionals Andrew Freeman, Anisha Queen, and Jamie Strawbridge, together with co-counsel C. Matthew Hill of the Public Justice Middle and Chelsea Ortega and Jane Santoni of Santoni, Vocci & Ortega, LLC.
The administration firm, co-owned by Jared Kushner, broke a state legislation that caps penalties for the late cost of lease at 5% of the month-to-month quantity. Along with the 5% late charge, Westminster was charging tenants “agent charges,” “summons charges,” and “court docket charges” that had not been awarded by any court docket.
Moreover, Westminster designated these charges as “lease” to be able to misapply tenants’ funds first to the unlawful charges and non-rent fees, so it might declare that lease was nonetheless due and acquire a quicker eviction. Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader wrote for the court docket that lease means “the fastened, periodic funds a tenant is obligated to pay to be used or occupancy of the leased premise” and rejected an argument from Westminster that the time period “encompasses no matter a written lease says it encompasses.”
The Supreme Courtroom dominated that Westminster couldn’t cost any extra charges after the 5% late charge, and that it couldn’t outline “lease” as all fees due to be able to allocate month-to-month funds to different fees and declare that tenants are behind on their lease.
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PLEASE FIND MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT THE CASE BELOW
Maryland Supreme Courtroom guidelines in opposition to Donald Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner’s house firm | The Baltimore Banner (March 25, 2024)
Maryland Supreme Courtroom guidelines for tenants looking for class motion in opposition to Jared Kushner’s firm | The Baltimore Solar (March 25, 2024)
Tenants’ lawsuit in opposition to administration firm owned by Kushner household allowed to proceed, Maryland appellate court docket guidelines | The Baltimore Solar (February 2, 2023)
Maryland tenants win victory at school motion lawsuit in opposition to Jared Kushner’s house firm | The Baltimore Banner (January 31, 2023)
Maryland tenants suing Jared Kushner’s house firm win victory on attraction | The Day by day Report (January 31, 2023)
