Columbia Housing Authority $1M Class Action Settlement

Tenants or household members tenants who lived at Allen Benedict Court in Columbia, South Carolina, on Jan. 17-18, 2019, during the emergency evacuation may qualify to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

The Housing Authority of the City of Columbia agreed to pay $1 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it did not maintain safe living conditions at Allen Benedict Court. The lawsuit claims the housing authority did not properly maintain appliances and equipment, which led to hazardous conditions, including the emergency evacuation of all residents in January 2019.

Who can file an Allen Benedict Court claim?

The following individuals are eligible to participate in the settlement:

• All plaintiffs who asserted claims in the Basinger and Montgomery cases. These individuals are automatically considered class members and do not need to submit a claim form to receive a monetary award.
• All tenants of Allen Benedict Court as shown on a written lease as of Jan. 17-18, 2019, and all household members residing at the tenant’s unit at Allen Benedict Court as of those dates provided they were listed on the tenant’s written lease. These individuals must submit a claim form to receive a payment unless they are already named plaintiffs in the Basinger or Montgomery cases.

Who is excluded from the class?

Tenants and individuals who previously settled and released their claims related to the emergency evacuation or the circumstances underlying the Basinger or Montgomery lawsuits are not eligible to participate in this settlement.

How much is the Columbia Housing Authority payout?

The settlement administrator will distribute the net settlement fund, after deductions for attorneys’ fees, litigation costs, claims administration and service awards, equally among all eligible claimants—both adults and minors.

How to claim a class action rebate

Class members who are not already a named plaintiff in the Basinger or Montgomery cases must submit a claim form to receive a payment. They can download, print, complete and mail the PDF claim form to the settlement administrator. The claim form must be postmarked by Sept. 1, 2025.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Basinger v. Columbia Housing Authority c/o CPT Group Inc., 50 Corporate Park, Irvine, CA 92606-5105

Required information

• Claimants must attest that they were tenants or household members at Allen Benedict Court as of Jan. 17-18, 2019, and that they have not previously settled their claims.
• Claimants must provide their full name, apartment number at Allen Benedict Court in January 2019, current mailing address, phone number, email address and names and birthdates of any minors who lived with them at the time and were listed on the lease.
• If the housing authority’s records are incomplete or inaccurate, claimants may be required to provide documentary proof to the claims administrator to establish eligibility. Proof may include a written lease, identification or other documentation showing residence at Allen Benedict Court during the relevant period.

$1 million settlement fund breakdown

The $1,000,000 settlement fund covers:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys’ fees: Up to $250,000
• Attorneys' costs: To be determined
• Service awards to class representatives: $2,500 each ($5,000 total)
• Payments to eligible class members: The remaining balance

Important dates

• Claim form deadline: Sept. 1, 2025
• Opt-out deadline: Sept. 1, 2025
• Final fairness approval hearing: After Nov. 15, 2025

When is the Basinger v. Columbia Housing Authority payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments to class members approximately 120 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia failed to properly maintain the Allen Benedict Court apartments, including its gas-operated appliances and furnaces. The plaintiffs claimed the housing authority's negligence led to hazardous conditions, including carbon monoxide poisoning deaths and the emergency evacuation of all tenants in January 2019. The plaintiffs said they suffered economic losses and disruption as a result of the evacuation and displacement.

The housing authority denied liability but agreed to settle to avoid further litigation costs and risks.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Settlement agreement
3. Settlement website