Every dollar amount and date on this page is quoted from the official settlement document.
Equity Residential $22.7M California Tenant Late Fee Settlement
Court case: Munguia-Brown, et al. v. Equity Residential, et al.
California tenants charged Equity Residential's 5% late fee between September 3, 2010 and October 28, 2022 recover 87% of the difference between what they paid and actual collection costs.
Official eligibility wordingCalifornia tenants charged a 5% late fee (minimum $50) at Equity Residential properties between September 3, 2010 and October 28, 2022; or tenants with non-Equity leases at Woodland Park in East Palo Alto charged $50 late fees from December 1, 2011 to February 2016. Checked against the official settlement source by SettleSignal on June 19, 2026.
Key facts
- Who may qualify You may qualify if you were a California tenant charged a 5% late fee, with a $50 minimum, at an Equity Residential property between September 3, 2010 and October 28, 2022.
- Estimated payoutMembers who paid late fees receive 87% of the difference between fees paid and actual collection costs; those charged but unpaid receive account credits (fee minus $22.51 for fees before May 1, 2022, or $31.98 thereafter). Total settlement: $43 million.
- Exclusion deadlineApril 16, 2026 (passed)
- Proof requiredNo
- What you needNothing to file — payment is sent automatically to people the administrator identifies. No proof is required.
- CourtU.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
How hard is this claim to file?
Watch out for
- Tenants who received a late fee charge but did NOT pay it cannot opt out of the settlement — only those who paid are eligible to opt out.
- Co-tenants on the same lease share the award equally; you will not receive the full amount if others are listed on your lease.
- Tenants who previously opted out of the class in earlier phases of this litigation are excluded and will not receive any payment.
- If you paid late fees after April 30, 2024 but before moving out, your check will be mailed to your last known address — make sure it is current.
- Uncashed refund checks will eventually be sent to the California unclaimed property program, so cash any check you receive promptly.
We prepare — you file on the official site yourself. This is not legal advice and is not an eligibility decision; the administrator and court decide.
Verify it yourself
How we verified this record
- Payout details
- Eligibility
- Proof requirement
- Administrator
- Court case
- Payment status
- 2 fields queued for re-check
2 official sources linked to this record.
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Eligibility summary Quoted in the official eligibility wording above ↑
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Proof requirement
No
No claim form is required. The settlement administrator automatically distributes payments via check or account credit to those who qualify.
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Payment status
Final approval pending
Final Approval Hearing: July 24, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (rescheduled from June 26, 2026).
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Estimated payout
Members who paid late fees receive 87% of the difference between fees paid and actual collection costs; those charged but unpaid receive account credits (fee minus $22.51 for fees before May 1, 2022, or $31.98 thereafter). Total settlement: $43 million.
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Administrator
CPT Group, Inc.
Administrator: CPT Group, Inc.
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Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Show all 7 more verified fields
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Opt-out deadline
April 16, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline: April 16, 2026 (postmarked). Mail signed opt-out request to: Munguia-Brown, et al. v. Equity Residential, et al., c/o CPT Group Inc., PO Box 19504, Irvine, CA 92623.
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Automatic refund
Yes — automatic, no claim needed
Default Action: Receive refunds via check and/or credits applied to tenant accounts or credit files.
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Class period start
September 3, 2010
Standard Late Fee Class: Those charged 5% monthly rent fees (minimum $50) at Equity Residential California properties between September 3, 2010 and October 28, 2022.
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Class period end
October 28, 2022
Standard Late Fee Class: Those charged 5% monthly rent fees (minimum $50) at Equity Residential California properties between September 3, 2010 and October 28, 2022.
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Court case number
4:16-cv-01225-JSW-TSH
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No-claim explanation
Settlement administrator uses defendant's records to identify class members and automatically distributes checks or account credits — no claim form needed.
No claim form is required. The settlement administrator automatically distributes payments via check or account credit to those who qualify.
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Case name
Munguia-Brown, et al. v. Equity Residential, et al.
Munguia-Brown, et al. v. Equity Residential, et al., c/o CPT Group Inc., PO Box 19504, Irvine, CA 92623.
Where to act
No claim form is needed — CPT Group, Inc. issues this refund automatically; confirm your eligibility and contact details on the official source.
No claim needed — payment is automatic
If you qualify, the settlement pays you automatically. There's nothing to file — just keep an eye on your mail or account around the payment date.
