Every dollar amount and date on this page is quoted from the official settlement document.
Richmond Hill $5M Fire Fees Class Action Settlement
Court case: Joshua Lanier v. City of Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill, Georgia charged property owners a flat "Fire Fee" that a lawsuit, Joshua Lanier v. City of Richmond Hill, Georgia, calls an illegal tax because it wasn't based on property value. The city agreed to a $5,000,000 Aggregate Refund Fund, paid in two installments by January 10, 2026 and January 10, 2027. If you owned property and paid Fire Fees between November 7, 2018, and final court approval, you may get a pro rata refund of 60-100% of what you paid, minus fees and expenses.
Official eligibility wordingProperty owners who paid Fire Fees between November 7, 2018, and the date of final court approval. Current property owners require no action; former property owners must submit a Claim Form. Checked against the official settlement source by SettleSignal on September 20, 2026.
Key facts
- Who may qualify You are a Class Member if you own or owned property in Richmond Hill, Georgia and were assessed and paid Fire Fees at any time between November 7, 2018, and the date the Court finally approves the settlement. The Administrator will divide Class Members into two groups: Category 1 (current owners) and Category 2 (former owners of the property tied to the refund).
- Estimated payoutPro rata refund expected to return 60-100% of the Fire Fees you paid during the Refund Period, less fees and expenses; exact amount depends on total fees paid and number of class members.
- Objection deadlineDecember 27, 2025 (passed)
- What you needCategory 1 Class Members (current property owners) do nothing — a refund check is mailed automatically. Category 2 Class Members (former owners) must wait for a Claim Form mailed to their last known address, then return it within sixty (60) days certifying they are the taxpayer the refund is calculated for. Claim Forms are also available on the Settlement Webpage.
- CourtSuperior Court of Bryan County, Georgia
How hard is this claim to file?
Watch out for
- The 60-day deadline runs from the date you receive your notice in the mail — not a fixed calendar date. Do not sit on the form once it arrives.
- Former owners who miss the 60-day return window lose their payment entirely.
- No refund will be issued until after the Court grants final approval of the settlement and all appeals, if any, are resolved — so payment timing is uncertain.
- The settlement is still pending final court approval as of the fairness hearing scheduled for July 1, 2026. Final approval is not guaranteed.
- The settlement website is http://richmondhillfirefeessettlement.com/ — use only official URLs listed in your notice to avoid look-alike scam sites.
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 Sep 20, 2026
- Eligibility Jun 17, 2026
- Payment status Jun 17, 2026
- 5 fields queued for re-check
6 official sources linked to this record.
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Eligibility summary Quoted in the official eligibility wording above ↑
Verified Jun 17, 2026
Property owners who paid Fire Fees between November 7, 2018, and the date of final court approval qualify for refunds.
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Payment status
Final approval pending
Verified Jun 17, 2026
A final approval hearing is scheduled for JULY 1, 2026.
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Estimated payout
Pro rata refund expected to return 60-100% of the Fire Fees you paid during the Refund Period, less fees and expenses; exact amount depends on total fees paid and number of class members.
Verified Sep 20, 2026
Pro-Rata Refund is expected to return to each Qualified Class Member 60-100% of the Fire Fees paid during the Refund Period less fees and expenses.
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Court
Superior Court of Bryan County, Georgia
Verified Sep 20, 2026
Show all 5 more verified fields
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Objection deadline
December 27, 2025
Verified Sep 20, 2026
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Automatic refund
Yes — automatic, no claim needed
Verified Jun 17, 2026
If you still own the property for which the fee was paid, no action is required.
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Class period start
November 7, 2018
Verified Jun 17, 2026
Property owners who paid Fire Fees between November 7, 2018, and the date of final court approval qualify for refunds.
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No-claim explanation
Current property owners receive automatic refund after final court approval; no claim form required for Category 1 (current owners).
Verified Jun 17, 2026
If you still own the property for which the fee was paid, no action is required.
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Case name
Joshua Lanier v. City of Richmond Hill
Verified Jun 17, 2026
Joshua Lanier v. City of Richmond Hill - The city reached a settlement regarding fire protection fee classification disputes.
Where to act
No claim form is needed — the official administrator 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.
