• “Amenity fee”
• “Move in fee”
• “Pet fee”
• “Application fee”
• “Maintenance fee”
• “Credit/screening fee”
• “Holding fee”
• New ”Community fee” (As of November 2012, Equity Residential is allegedly charging a “community fee,” due some point after the first month)

Under Investigation: If you have ever been employed by, or rented an apartment from Avalon, you are encouraged to contact us today.

UNDER INVESTIGATION:  Avalon,  AvalonBay Communities Inc, (NYSE: AVB)

Thousand of Units

Avalon Communities, or AvalonBay owns 7,631 rental units in Massachusetts. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AvalonBay) is a real estate investment trust (REIT).” “With more than 180 complexes in ten states and the District of Columbia, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB) is the nation’s second largest publicly traded apartment owner.”

Suspected Security Deposit Law Violations Under Investigation

Has Avalon refused to return your security deposit?
Has Avalon deducted money for cleaning charges?
Has Avalon charged you an application fee ?

The Leonard Law Office, LLP is investigating whether Massachusetts consumers have paid fees they should not have. If you paid an application fee before renting an Avalon apartment in the past four years, please contact us.

Avalon Properties in Massachusetts

Boston
Avalon at Prudential Center
780 Boylston Street
866-653-9583

Avalon Exeter
77 Exeter Street

Acton
Avalon Acton
1000 Avalon Drive
866-489-3548

Andover
Avalon Andover
460 River Road
877-587-4061

Bedford
Avalon at Bedford Center
200 Avalon Drive
866-313-5269

Billerica
Middlesex Crossing
158 Concord Road
866-567-6875

Chestnut Hill
Avalon at Chestnut Hill
160 Boylston Street (Route 9)
866-737-9267

Cohasset
Avalon Cohasset
One Avalon Drive
866-958-4472

Danvers
Avalon Danvers
1101 Kirkbride Drive
866-664-9368

Hingham
Avalon at the Hingham Shipyard
152 Shipyard Drive
866-559-6909

Lexington
Avalon at Lexington
100 Lexington Ridge Drive
866-429-1366

Avalon at Lexington Hills
1000 Main Campus Drive
866-912-6829

Captain Parker Arms
7 Captain Parker Arms, #1
866-883-8679

Marlborough
Avalon Orchards
Three Avalon Drive
866-478-8968

Natick
Avalon Natick
5 Chrystler Road

Newton
Avalon at Newton Highlands
89-99 Needham St.
866-391-4455

Northborough
Avalon Northborough
14 Avalon Drive
866-956-5078

Peabody
Avalon Essex
One Avalon Drive
866-436-0917

eaves Peabody
51 Keys Drive
866-699-9059

Plymouth
Avalon at The Pinehills
One Avalon Way
866-313-5270

Quincy
eaves Summit
150 Quarry Street
866-750-1977

Randolph
Avalon Blue Hills
One Avalon Drive
866-887-0632

Sharon
Avalon Sharon
2500 Avalon Drive
866-874-1840

Shrewsbury
Avalon Shrewsbury
One Avalon Way
866-639-1894

Somerville
Avalon at Assembly Row
74 Foley Street

AVA Somerville
74 Foley Street

Weymouth
Avalon Oaks & Oaks West
One Avalon Drive
866-687-7699

A detailed history of AvalonBay Communities Inc. is here.

Related articles

• AvalonBay Communities Announces May 22, 2013, Retirement of Bryce Blair from the Board; Timothy J. N (dailyfinance.com)
• AvalonBay sells two properties for $332M (bizjournals.com)
• Hedge Funds Are Betting On AvalonBay Communities Inc (NYSE:AVB) (insidermonkey.com)
• Why Did AvalonBay Walk Away From Court Fight With Princeton? (walkableprinceton.wordpress.com)
• AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Announces Nomination of Glyn F. Aeppel to the Board of Directors (dailyfinance.com)
• Troubling Development AvalonBay: A Bad Neighbor in the Garden State (SEIU Local 32BJ)
• Princeton Citizens For Sustainable Neighborhoods (Facebook)

UNDER INVESTIGATION: Equity Residential

The Leonard Law Office, LLP is currently investigating Equity Residential’s business practices.  Former or current residents and employees are welcome to contact us with information. We have already filed one class action lawsuit against Equity Residential for allegedly violating the Massachusetts security deposit statute. 

Tenant Complaints

Equity Residential Watch has alleged that Equity Residential is guilty of “tenant abuse,” and “has a troubling history of flouting the law and violating tenants rights nationwide.”  Read that discussion here.

• “This is the rudest, greediest, most vile organization I have ever dealt with in my life.” – C.L, Florida

New Investigation Underway

Greed

Sam Zell - Billionaire investor, Equity Residential Chairman Sam Zell clearly believes home ownership is not for everyone. He famously remarked during the subprime mortgage crisis, “We need to clean out all those people who never should have bought in the first place and not give them sympathy.”

Billionaire Sam Zell, photo by Bloomberg

Information About Equity Residential

Equity Residential co-founder Sam Zell has a net worth of 4.9 B, and is #66 on Forbes 400.

David Neithercut -  CEO executive of this Chicago-based real estate investment trust Equity Residential, came in #20 on the list of highest paid CEOs in 2011.  His total compensation rose to $11.3 million in 2011 from $4.3 million in 2010.  In 2012 he dropped to #187, but he’s still raking in big bucks, with total previous 5-Year Compensation of $26.39 million.

Equity Residential Stock (NYSE: EQR)

Equity Residential’s stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.  The Street Wire reported on June 1, 2012: “Equity Residential (EQR) pushed the Real Estate industry lower today making it today’s featured Real Estate loser.”  The Street Wire again reported, on August 6, 2012: “Equity Residential (EQR) pushed the Real Estate industry lower today making it today’s featured Real Estate laggard.”

Frederick C. Tuomi was Executive Vice President at Equity Residential recently sold 13,812 shares @ $59.75 for a total value of $825,230.00.

Litigation Against Equity Residential

New : Equity Residential Hit With Class Action Lawsuits in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Federal Class Action Lawsuits Against Equity Residential:

Miller v. Equity Residential Management, LLC

Perry v. Equity Residential Management, LLC

The Copycat Case:

Vincelette v. Equity Residential Management, LLC

Victims of Equity Residential Facebook Page

Victims of Equity Residential Facebook Page

Other Lawsuits and Complaints against Equity Residential:

(1) The Equal Rights Center v. Equity Residential, et al., Maryland, 2007, here and here.

(2) Parents Against Disability Discrimination et. al. v. Equity Residential, Washington, 2004, here.

(3) Maryland Attorney General v. Equity Residential, 2005, here and here.

(4) Parking garage collapse, New Jersey, 2010, here.

(5) Miscellaneous complaints, nationally, 2008-2012, here.

(6) Miscellaneous complaints, nationally, 2008-2012, here.

(7) Miscellaneous complaints, New York City, 2012, here.

(8) Miscellaneous complaints, Florida, here.

(9) BBB rating of  “F,” here.

(10) Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Equity Residential Management, LLC ; 2008,  here.

(11) Cashwell v. Equity Residential Management, LLC et al, Maryland, 2008, here.

(12) Schaefer et al v. Equity Residential Management, L.L.C., 2010, here.

(13) Equity Residential Properties v. Yates, Florida, 2005, here.

(14) Miller v. Equity Residential Management LLC, Security deposit law, Massachusetts, 2012, here.

(15) East Palo Alto, California three-day “pay rent or quit” notices, here.

(16) Advocates Take Aim at Equity Residential, here.

(17) “Equity has shady practices that are aimed at only on thing: MORE PROFIT FOR EQUITY!” here.

Equity Residential Apartment Complexes in Massachusetts:

• Emerson Place Apartments

72 Staniford Street

Boston, MA 02114

(866) 704-4048

• The Towers at Longfellow Apartments

72 Staniford St.

Boston, MA 02114

(866) 915-1041

• Heritage at Stone Ridge Apartments

2 Littles Brook Court

Burlington, MA 01803

(866) 795-8918

• 929 House Apartments

929 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, MA 02139

(866) 469-5495

• Church Corner Apartments

10 Magazine Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

(866) 737-8214

• Third Square Apartments

285 Third Street

Cambridge, MA 02142

(866) 793-1829

• CityView at Longwood Apartments

75 St. Alphonsus Street

Boston, MA 02120

(866) 915-1070

• Gateway at Malden Center Apartments

14 Summer Street

Malden, MA 02148

(866) 793-1499

• Walden Park Apartments

205 Walden St

Cambridge, MA 02140

(866) 438-3551

• Longview Place Apartments

70 Hope Ave

Waltham, MA 02453

(866) 915-1064

• The West End Apartments-Asteria, Villas and Vesta

72 Staniford Street

Boston, MA 02114

(866) 558-8412

• Rockingham Glen Apartments

30 Rockingham Ave.

West Roxbury, MA 02132

(866) 915-4471

• Abington Glen Apartments

500 N. Quincy St.

Abington, MA 02351

(866) 469-5496

• Liberty Park Apartments

1 Matthew Lane

Braintree, MA 02184

(866) 915-1049

• Arboretum Apartments

1 Arboretum Way

Canton, MA 02021

(866) 469-5510

• South Winds Apartments

24 Rolling Green Dr

Fall River, MA 02720

(866) 915-5217

• Four Winds Apartments

5500 N. Main St.

Fall River, MA 02720

(866) 418-3573

• Glen Meadow Apartments

43 Glen Meadow Rd.

Franklin, MA 02038

(866) 793-1790

• Rolling Green-Milford Apartments

1 Rolling Green Dr.

Milford, MA 01757

(866) 915-4480

• Dean Estates Apartments

120 Dean St.

Taunton, MA 02780

(866) 761-1275

• Rosecliff Apartments

790 Willard Street

Quincy, MA 02169

(866) 915-4842

• Lincoln Heights Apartments

175 Centre Street

Quincy, MA 02169

(866) 915-1061

• Rolling Green – Amherst Apartments

1 A Rolling Green Dr.,

Amherst, MA 01002

(866) 915-4479

• Heritage at Stone Ridge Apartments

2 Littles Brook Court

Burlington, MA 01803

(866) 795-8918

• Webster Green Apartments

757 Highland Ave.

Needham, MA 02494

(866) 915-8470

• Longview Place Apartments

70 Hope Ave

Waltham, MA 02453

(866) 915-1064

• Phillips Park Apartments

324 Washington Street

Wellesley, MA 02481

(866) 915-3225

• Westwood Glen Apartments

21 Westwood Glen Rd.

Westwood, MA 02090

(866) 915-8515

• Highland Glen Apartments

1055 Highland Glen Road

Westwood, MA 02090

(866) 797-9947

Related articles

• Equity Residential moving forward with 39-story project in downtown Seattle (bizjournals.com)
• Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR): Hedge Funds Are Bullish and Insiders Are Bearish, What Should You Do? (insidermonkey.com)
• Lehman Sued by Shareholders Over Archstone Asset Sale – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
• Manhattan Apartment Rents Near Peak as Gains Accelerate – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
• The New Investors Playbook: REIT Edition – Health Care REIT, Inc. (HCN), Equity Residential (EQR), Campus Crest Communities Inc (CCG) (insidermonkey.com)
• Equity Residential (EQR) Presents 12% Total Return (insidermonkey.com)

• Common problem: Landlord did not return the security deposit within 30 days after termination of tenancy
• Landlord did not deposit the security deposit in an escrow account.
• Landlord did not pay interest on last month’s rent within 30 days termination of tenancy
• Landlord did not to transfer the security deposit or last month’s rent to the new landlord if the building is sold
• Landlord made up false damage
• Landlord charged you for cleaning costs and took that from the security deposit

If your landlord did not follow the law, you could be entitled to Treble damages, (3X the amount of the security deposit) plus court costs , plus Attorney’s fees. The Leonard Law Office, LLP accepts security deposit cases. We have recovered security deposits from both the largest (and some of the smallest) landlords in Massachusetts.

If you are interested in speaking with an experienced security deposit lawyer about your rights, you are encouraged to contact us.

Under Investigation: -OVERDRAFT FEES- Eastern Bank, Middlesex Savings, Rockland Trust, Salem Five

ANNOUNCEMENT: You may have heard of (or been affected by) overdraft fees at Citizens Bank or Bank of America, and the class action lawsuits and settlements related to those overdraft fees.

There are four Massachusetts state-chartered banks which may have engaged in similar unfair practices related to overdraft fees.  They are: (1) Middlesex Savings Bank; (2) Rockland Trust; (3) Salem Five; (4) Eastern Bank. Whenever bank transactions are re-ordered from highest to lowest to put customers into a negative balance – thereby causing a domino effect of overdraft fees, banking customers have been injured. This is especially true if you used a debit card for multiple purchases over a period of several days without realizing you had a negative balance.

If you have been a customer of any of the banks listed below, and you have paid overdraft fees, you are encouraged to contact us at (617) 595-3640.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Bank Watch List:

• Eastern Bank
• Middlesex Savings
• Rockland Trust Company
• Salem Five

*     *     *     *     *

Salem Five: “If you banked here, you’d be smiling by now”

*

*     *     *     *     *

Middlesex Savings Bank – Massachusetts

Rockland Trust Company – Massachusetts

Salem Five Bank – Massachusetts

Related articles

• Sweetnam LLC Announces Old National Bank Debit Card Overdraft Fee Class Action Certified (prweb.com)
• Here’s Where Your Money Is Going: Consumers Paid $32 Billion In Overdraft Fees Last Year (consumerist.com)
• Overdraft is another way banks win and you lose (business.financialpost.com)
• Eastern Bank launches ad campaign with new slogan (bizjournals.com)
• Adam Levin: Since When Did Megabanks Become Your Evil Step-Mother? (huffingtonpost.com)
• Susquehanna latest bank to settle excessive overdraft fees litigation (bizjournals.com)
• The $32 Billion Bank Heist You’re Paying For (fool.com)
• The Market Ticker – An Astounding Statistic: $32 Billion In Overdraft Fees (market-ticker.org)

Under Investigation: Greystar’s Business Practices in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Greystar operates six apartment buildings in Massachusetts:

• Avana Abington
• Factory 63
• Jefferson at Dedham Station
• Jefferson Hills
• Springfield Apartments
• The Lofts at Atlantic Wharf

Have you been charged an “amenity fee,” “pet deposit,” or “application fee” by Greystar? If so, you are encouraged to contact us, because your tenant rights under Massachusetts law may have been violated, and you could be entitled to financial compensation.

Do you have other complaints about Greystar?

Greystar

In a January 2013 press release Greystar claims to be “the largest operator of apartments in the United States” (Equity Residential may dispute that assertion).

*

Really?

*

Greystar in Massachusetts

*

Related articles

• Ivanhoe Cambridge partners on 27 properties in U.S. acquired for US$1.5B (timescolonist.com)
• Greystar pays $40M for Stonybrook Apartments in Boynton Beach (bizjournals.com)

Reporting Pay, or the “Three Hour Rule”

In Massachusetts, the law is clear about “reporting pay.” Reporting pay means the minimum pay that an employer must give for requiring an employee to show up for a shift of three or more hours, and then sending them home early.

Here is the law:

455 CMR 2.03

2.03: Hours Worked (1) Reporting Pay. When an employee who is scheduled to work three or more hours reports for duty at the time set by the employer, and that employee is not provided with the expected hours of work, the employee shall be paid for at least three hours on such day at no less than the basic minimum wage. 455 CMR 2.03(1) shall not apply to organizations granted status as charitable organizations under the Internal Revenue Code.

Example:

Joe is a delivery man at a flower shop.  Joe is scheduled to work a full shift (5 hours) on Valentines Day.  Due to a nationwide shortage of roses, the business is unable to fill any orders. Joe’s boss “cuts” him and sends him home after 2.5 hours on the clock.  Joe’s hourly rate is $15.00.  The flower shop must pay him this way:

• 2.5 hours at Joe’s regular rate of 15.00/hr, which equals  $37.5, then at least the minimum wage for a half hour, which would be $4.00, resulting in a  a total of $41.50 minimum owed to Joe.

Source: Attorney General’s publication about Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws, .pdf (here).

There are no reported cases that I was able to find about this law. However, there is an opinion letter here and below:

07/09/2007 - Reporting Pay Provision "Three Hour Rule"
Opinion Letter
MW-2007-002
July 9, 2007
I am writing in response to your request, on behalf of your client ***, for this Office's written opinion regarding the applicability of the Massachusetts Minimum Fair Wage Law. Specifically, you have asked how 455 C.M.R. §2.03(1), the Reporting Pay requirement, applies to employees scheduled to work less than three hours. [1]
The Reporting Pay provision, also known as the "three hour rule," provides:
When an employee who is scheduled to work three or more hours reports for duty at the time set by the employer, and that employee is not provided with the expected hours of work, the employee shall be paid for at least three hours on such day at no less than the basic minimum wage. [This provision] shall not apply to organizations granted status as charitable organizations under the Internal Revenue Code.
455 C.M.R. §2.03(1). Therefore, if a for-profit employer schedules an employee for three or more hours, the employee arrives at the worksite on time, and the employer does not provide the expected hours, the employee must be paid for at least three hours at no less than the minimum wage ($7.50 per hour). Of course, for any actual time worked, the employee must be paid his/her actual wage. For example, if an employee is told that a meeting will take four hours, and the employee is sent home after two hours, the employee must be paid for two hours at his/her regular rate of pay, and at least minimum wage for the third hour. [2]
Alternatively, if an employee is, in good faith, scheduled for less than three hours, the employer may pay the employee for only the hours worked. For example, if an employee is scheduled for a two-hour meeting and she/he works these two hours, the "three hour rule" is inapplicable, and the employer may pay the employee for only the hours worked.
I hope this information has been helpful. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Lisa C. Price
Deputy General Counsel
[1] As you know, most employers are also subject to the federal minimum wage and hour law, found in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and regulations promulgated thereunder. For information about applicable federal wage and hour laws, you should contact the U.S. Department of Labor.
[2] Of course, if the meeting causes a non-exempt employee's hours to exceed 40 hours in the workweek, the employee must be paid time and one-half pay for all hours actually worked in excess of 40 hours.
***=Names have been Omitted

Related articles

• These 6 States Have the Highest Minimum Wages (dailyfinance.com)
• Most minimum wage workers are adults who work for large corporations (deathandtaxesmag.com)
• Why Well-Paid Employees Are Good for Business (dailyfinance.com)

The Leonard Law Office, LLP is representing clients regarding credit card privacy claims against J. Crew. This class action, alleging violations of Massachusetts privacy and consumer protection laws, was filed on June 20, 2013.

Information about the class action lawsuit against J. Crew

The complaint alleges that J. Crew collected ZIP codes at checkout at its Massachusetts stores from customers who made purchases with credit cards, recorded that information as part of credit card transactions, and then used that information for marketing  purposes, including to send unsolicited marketing and promotional materials, or “junk mail.”  The complaint further alleges that:

• J. Crew does not collect, record, and use the customers’ ZIP code information in order to verify the customer’s identity or for any other legitimate purpose in connection with the Credit Card transaction.
• J. Crew uses this information for its own marketing and promotional purposes. Possession of the consumer’s ZIP code information, together with the customer’s name, enables Defendant to identify the customer’s address and/or telephone number through the use of publicly available databases.
• J. Crew uses the ZIP code information it collects from customers and the addresses and other information it then obtains, to send unsolicited marketing and promotional materials, or “junk mail,” to customers, including Plaintiff and Class members.
• J. Crew also has the ability to sell the ZIP code information it collects from customers (including Plaintiff and Class members) and the addresses and other information it then obtains, to third parties for a profit or to use the information for other marketing and promotional purposes.

Information about the Class

The proposed class would consist of all persons whose ZIP codes were collected and recorded at any J. Crew retail location in Massachusetts while making Credit Card purchases during the period from June 20, 2009 through June 20, 2013.   The class has not yet been certified.  If you have questions about whether you may be involved, you are welcome to contact the Leonard Law Office, LLP.

Information about J. Crew

J. Crew is a privately-held corporation, organized under the laws of Delaware with a principal place of business at 770 Broadway, New York NY 10003.  J. Crew has sixteen retail locations in Massachusetts, three of which are factory outlets and the remainder of which are traditional retail stores.

Related articles

• Guitar Center faces suit in Boston federal court over ZIP code request (bizjournals.com)
• Massachusetts High Court Strikes Down Arbitration Class Action Ban (pubcit.typepad.com)
• Add J. Crew to the list of companies sued over what they do with customer Zip codes (Universalhub.com)
• Woman sues second national chain over junk mail (Universalhub.com)
• Two more chains sued over way they figure out customer addresses to send them junk mail (Universalhub.com)
• No, the Cashier Doesn’t Really Need Your ZIP Code (dailyfinance.com)

The animation below depicts a common scenario:

A landlord keeps all or part of a security deposit.  They often commit technical violations that not only forfeit the landlord’s ight to hold the deposit at all, but entitle the former tenant to three times the amount of the deposit, and legal fees.

My Landlord Kept My Security Deposit!

If you have had a problem or having a problem with a Massachusetts landlord, you are welcome to contact us. We have successfully taken on landlords from the biggest in the country to individual owners renting out only one unit.

“Inequity” Residential

Equity Residential now faces its sixth class action lawsuit in Massachusetts since 2012, which may be a record in Massachusetts jurisprudence. The Leonard Law Office, LLP, and the Law Offices of Joshua N. Garick P.C. filed suit against Equity today on behalf of tenants of the Walden Park Apartments in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Leonard Law Office, LLP is representing Massachusetts consumers in two other class actions against Equity Residential, and other class actions against Verizon, L’Oreal, Green Tree Servicing, J. Crew, and Urban Outfitters.

If you reside at the Walden Park Apartments, please contact us and let us know whether you were affected by heating issues such as lack of hot water or inadequate heat in your apartment.  The suit seeks $3,000,000 in damages on behalf of the class.  An adobe .pdf copy of the complaint is available for download here.

220-225 Walden St. (Walden Park Apartments)

The complaint alleges: “On November 4, 2011, Equity acquired Walden Park, which includes two large apartment buildings located at 205 and 225 Walden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Walden Park has approximately 250 apartment units. When Equity acquired Walden Park, the heating and hot water systems were fully operable and in good working order. The plaintiffs entered into a written lease agreement with Walden Park’s previous owner, the Dolben Company, to rent the apartment located at 225 Walden Park, Cambridge, MA. When the Dolben Company owned Walden Park, the plaintiffs had no issues with the heat or hot water system. After Equity acquired Walden Park, issues with Equity-provided utilities, including heat and hot water, began. Starting in April of 2012, and continuing for well over a year thereafter until the present date, the plaintiffs and the Class experienced significant deficiencies and outages with the heat and hot water, including, without limitation, issues on the following dates:

• May 8, 2012
• May 12,2012
• May 16,2012
• June 27, 2012
• August 23, 2012
• October 20, 2012
• October 21,2012
• October 23, 2012
• November 1, 2012
• November 3, 2012
• November 6, 2012
• November 7, 2012
• November 16, 2012
• November 17, 2012
• November 19,2012
• March 28, 2013
• April 3,2013
• April 10, 2013
• April 17, 2013
• April 18, 2013
• April23, 2013
• June 6, 2013
• June 25, 2013
• August 15, 2013

These outages were systemic, and affected all Walden Park units. Over the course of this year, Equity exhibited no urgency in resolving these issues and provided misleading and contradictory reasons for shutting off the utilities. These reasons included, among other stated reasons, conversion from oil to natural gas, a water conservation project, a heating and cooling project, fuel supply/consumption issues, operator error, and automatic shutdowns. The problem was so egregious that the Cambridge Board of Health, which received numerous reports from Walden Park residents, cited Equity for violations of the State Sanitary Code, and deemed the violations to materially impair the health, safety or well-being of the Walden Park’s residents. On numerous occasions, the plaintiffs, (as well as other Walden Park residents) complained to Equity’s staff including complaints by telephone, e-mail and in person. These complaints were not resolved, forcing the plaintiffs to pursue formal litigation against Equity.” The Complaint further alleges that Equity Residential Equity backed out of a settlement deal reached earlier this month between Equity’s lawyers, and attorneys representing tenants.

Equity Residential Walden St. Apartments, Cambridge, MA

Related articles

• Equity Residential Class Action & Ongoing Investigation into Equity’s Business Practices (TheleonardLawoffice.com)
• Equity Residential is Crumbling Down (investorplace.com)
• Equity Residential Said to Prepare Sale of $1.7 Billion DeWAG – Bloomberg (bloomberg.com)
• Equity Residential Announces Second Quarter 2013 Earnings Release Date (fool.com)
• Equity Residential Becomes Oversold (EQR) (forbes.com)

Massachusetts law prohibits businesses from requesting and recording a customer’s personal identification when accepting payment by credit card.  The Leonard Law Office, LLP is representing Massachusetts consumers in a privacy class action against Brooks Brothers, filed in August, 2013.

If you have received junk mailing from Brooks Brothers after using a credit/debit card at a retail location and providing Brooks Brothers with your zip code or home address, you are invited to contact us.

Brooks Brothers – Newbury St.

The Class Action Complaint alleges:

• Brooks Brothers requests customers’ zip codes when they make a purchase using a credit card.
• Brooks Brothers has a policy of automatically requesting a customer’s zip code in all credit or debit card transactions, and, if provided, recording the zip code electronically in connection with the transaction.
• Brooks Brothers has a policy of using its customers’ zip codes, and information obtained from third party databases to send marketing materials to customers.
• Brooks Brothers has a policy of sharing this information with other Brooks Brothers brands.
• Brooks Brothers’ policies harm Massachusetts consumers by subjecting them to unwanted junk mail, and other marketing without their consent, and using customers’ personal information without their consent for its own business purposes.

Brooks brothers display

Brooks brothers shirts

About Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers, Inc. is a privately held, Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 100 Phoenix  Avenue, Enfield, Connecticut 06083.  According to Bloomberg, Mr. Claudio Del Vecchio is President and Chief Executive Officer of Brooks Brothers.

Brooks Brothers – founded 1818

Related articles

• The Mad Men of Brooks Brothers are trying to re-popularize the tie (daveibsen.typepad.com)
• Great Gatsby Inspired Menswear Collection by Brooks Brothers (extravaganzi.com)
• Brooks Brothers to Dress FC Internazionale Milano (oregonprepandliberal.wordpress.com)
• Urban Outfitters Faces Privacy Class Action in Massachusetts (theleonardlawoffice.com)
• Epic Collaborations: The Gatsby Collection at Brooks Brothers (myfashioncents.com)
• Oroton bags Brooks Brothers joint venture (news.com.au)
• Mack Senate campaign charges Brooks Brothers clothing to campaign (tampabay.com)
• Brooks Brothers (Wikipedia)

Common scenario:

A landlord keeps all or part of a security deposit.  They often commit technical violations that not only forfeit the landlord’s right to hold the deposit at all, but entitle the former tenant to three times the amount of the deposit, and legal fees.

If you are having a problem with a Massachusetts landlord, you are welcome to contact us. We have successfully taken on landlords from the biggest in the country to individual owners renting out only one unit.