Dec 05, 2022

ABOUT THE CASE:

What is this case about?

This is an antitrust lawsuit, which typically pertain to conspiracy to fix prices instead of allowing for market competition among various companies. The lawsuit was filed against the largest property management companies in Seattle for conspiring to inflate the price of rent in Seattle through the involvement of a third-party, RealPage.
In competitive markets, companies make pricing decisions without working together. This benefits all of us; companies compete to offer consumers the best deals. In the United States, it is illegal to conspire to fix prices.

What is the status of this case?

We are actively investigating the facts to uncover the full extent of the misconduct in this new case.

Who are the defendants?

Currently, the lawsuit includes the defendants listed below. As we obtain more facts and data, we may add additional property management companies.

  • RealPage, Inc.
  • AvalonBay Communities Inc.
  • Avenue5 Residential, LLC
  • Equity Residential
  • Essex Property Trust, Inc.
  • FPI Management, Inc.
  • Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC
  • Lincoln Property Co.
  • Security Properties Inc.
  • Thrive Communities Management, LLC
  • Trammell Crow Resident
Is this a class action?

We have proposed this case as a class action to the court, and it will decide whether we can pursue this case as such. If the judge approves certification of the class, we will notify everyone who contacted us to receive case updates.

Who is affected?

The proposed class is defined as those who leased multifamily residential real estate units from a defendant between January 1, 2016 and the present in downtown Seattle, Belltown, Capitol Hill, Central District, South Lake Union, and Queen Anne (zip codes 98122, 98109, 98102, 98121, 98101, 98119, 98199, 98107, 98117 and 98103). As the facts develop, this proposed class definition may change.

Will low-income units be included in the proposed class? What about other neighborhoods in the greater Seattle area?

We are still developing the facts of the case. The final class definition may change based on the data and facts that are uncovered during the lawsuit, at which point we will notify you.

Are there any other antitrust lawsuits that allege price-fixing in housing?

Yes. We have also sued RealPage and leasing companies on behalf of student renters in several cities. That lawsuit alleges that the defendants fixed the prices of student housing. There are also other cases, filed by other law firms, that involve similar allegations of price-fixing residential units.

WHISTLEBLOWERS: 

What if I worked for one of these companies and have information that might help?

Contact us if you worked for a defendant and know how RealPage or other methods were used to fix prices. The statements of former employees are often key to holding corporations accountable for their misconduct and it takes courage to blow the whistle.

While we cannot offer legal advice to former employees or offer a guarantee that their statements will remain confidential, we will make our best effort to keep your information private.

MY SIGN-UP INFORMATION:

Did you receive my information?

Your information has been received and is in our database.

What if my contact information changes?

Please notify us if your contact information changes.

Can my landlord retaliate against me for signing up for case updates?

No. The leasing companies do not have access to our list of clients, those who have signed a Rights & Responsibilities agreement with us, or those that have signed up for case updates via our website form.

MY STATUS IN THE CASE:

Am I a class member?

The proposed class is defined as those who leased multifamily residential real estate units from a defendant between January 1, 2016 and the present in downtown Seattle, Belltown, Capitol Hill, Central District, South Lake Union, and Queen Anne (zip codes 98122, 98109, 98102, 98121, 98101, 98119, 98199, 98107, 98117 and 98103). As the facts develop, this proposed class definition may change.

Does Hagens Berman represent me?

At the outset of a case like this, only the named class representative(s) in the complaint is represented by the lawyers who file the lawsuit. Once the lawsuit is certified by the court, then class counsel is appointed and they represent all members of the certified class. If you are interested in becoming a class representative plaintiff, please let us know and we would be happy to talk you through what that special role in the lawsuit involves.

What if I signed a class-action waiver as part of my lease?

We don’t know yet. This may be an issue decided by the court. Sometimes, class-action waivers are enforceable, but sometimes courts find that they are not enforceable.

NEXT STEPS?

How long do these kinds of cases take?

It can take years for an antitrust class action to reach trial or resolution because antitrust class actions are some of the most complicated cases to litigate. We intend to vigorously prosecute these claims and have a team of lawyers with decades of experience handling this case.

What should I do?

You are not required to take any additional actions now. We will keep you informed of significant case progress and potential next steps.

 OTHER LEGAL MATTERS:

Can you give me advice about other landlord/tenant issues?

No. The lawyers working on this case specialize in antitrust misconduct, and we cannot give you advice about your specific lease or landlord/tenant issues, including repair issues, lease negotiations, evictions or improper rent increases during Governor Inslee’s moratorium. The city of Seattle has compiled a list of resources for renters. If you want legal advice about a specific landlord/tenant issue, you may want to consult with an attorney that specializes in landlord/tenant disputes.