United States District Court, Middle District of North Carolina | Case No. 1:19cv349
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| If you resided in any of the properties in North Carolina owned and/or managed by RAM Partners, LLC, including Tralee Affordable Panther LLC d/b/a Deerfield Crossing Apartments, you may be entitled to benefits from a class action Settlement. |
| WHAT IS THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT? |
| The lawsuit alleges that the Defendants unlawfully threatened and charged complaint filing fees, sheriff service fees, and attorneys’ fees (“Eviction Fees”) when filing summary ejectment/eviction actions against their tenants. The lawsuit, as amended, brought claims for relief for: violation of the North Carolina Residential Rental Agreements Act (N.C.G.S. § 42-46), violation of the North Carolina Debt Collection Act (N.C.G.S. § 75-50 et seq.), violation of the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act (N.C.G.S. § 75-1.1 et seq.), Negligent Misrepresentation, Breach of Contract, and for declaratory judgment. The Defendants deny these claims, contend that they have numerous defenses to the action, and deny that class certification is required or appropriate. |
| How do I know if I am in the Settlement? |
| There are two types of Class Members in this Action: |
| A. Collection Letter Class Members |
| You are a Collection Letter Class Member if you are a natural person who at any point between February 19, 2015 and June 25, 2018, resided in any of the properties in North Carolina owned and/or managed by Defendants, and you received a letter that you would either be charged with Eviction Fees upon the filing of a summary ejectment action or that you owe Eviction Fees. A representative letter can be found here. |
| B. Eviction Fee Class Members |
| You are an Eviction Fee Class Member if you at any point between February 19, 2015 and June 25, 2018, resided in any of the properties in North Carolina owned and/or managed by Defendants, and you were charged and actually paid Eviction Fees. |
| Excluded from the Settlement Classes are (1) persons who are employees, directors, officers, and agents of Defendants; (2) persons who timely and properly exclude themselves from the Settlement Class as provided in this Agreement; (3) anyone who has previously executed a written release of all claims against Defendants related to the collecting of Eviction Fees and would otherwise be a member of the Settlement Class; and (4) the Court, the Court’s immediate family, and Court staff. |
| What are my options? |
| COLLECTION LETTER CLASS | |
| SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM BY MARCH 8, 2021 | If you wish to receive benefits from the Settlement, you must submit a valid and timely Claim Form. |
| EXCLUDE YOURSELF BY FEBRUARY 15, 2021 | You will receive no payment from the Settlement. This is the only option that allows you to ever be a part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants about the legal claims in this case. |
| OBJECT BY FEBRUARY 15, 2021 | Write to the Court about why you think the Settlement is unfair, inadequate, or unreasonable. |
| GO TO A HEARING ON MARCH 22, 2021 AT 10:00 A.M. | Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement. |
| FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPEAR BY FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | Your Notice of Intent to Appear in Court at the Hearing must be filed with the Court and served on Class Counsel and Defendants' Counsel no later than this date. |
| DO NOTHING | Get no payment. Give up rights to ever sue the Defendants about the legal claims in this case. |
| EVICTION FEE CLASS | |
| DO NOTHING | You will remain a member of the Eviction Fee Class and will automatically receive a Settlement Benefit. Members of this Class do not need to file a Claim, unless they are also members of the Collection Letter Class and/or wish to receive non-monetary relief |
| EXCLUDE YOURSELF BY FEBRUARY 15, 2021 | You will receive no payment from the Settlement. This is the only option that allows you to ever be a part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants about the legal claims in this case. |
| OBJECT BY FEBRUARY 15, 2021 | Write to the Court about why you think the Settlement is unfair, inadequate, or unreasonable. |
| GO TO A HEARING ON MARCH 22, 2021 AT 10:00 A.M. | Ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement. |
| FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPEAR BY FEBRUARY 22, 2021 | Your Notice of Intent to Appear in Court at the Hearing must be filed with the Court and served on Class Counsel and Defendants' Counsel no later than this date. |
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Toll-Free Class Member Support:
1-888-470-1092
Case Email:
evictionfeeclassactionnc@cptgroup.com