The Collier Cos. $300K Rent and Late Fees Settlement

Former tenants or guarantors on a residential lease at certain Florida student housing properties managed by The Collier Cos. or Paradigm Properties Management Team between Jan. 1, 2017, and Aug. 21, 2024, may be eligible to submit a claim for a cash payment a class action settlement.

The Collier Cos. Inc. and Paradigm Properties Management Team Inc. agreed to pay $300,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging they violated Florida law by demanding accelerated rent and/or accelerated late fees from former tenants after lease termination.

Who can file a claim for a payment?

There are two groups of class members:

• Actual damages settlement class: All former tenants or guarantors named in a residential lease for any of the qualifying Florida student housing properties who received a notice demanding payment of accelerated late fees and/or accelerated rent and who made a payment to the defendants between Jan. 1, 2017, through Aug. 21, 2024, after receiving such a notice
• The actual damages class can submit a claim to receive a payment and removal of any negative credit reporting related to the fees.

• Injunctive relief settlement class: All former tenants or guarantors named in a residential lease for any of the class properties who received a notice demanding payment of accelerated late fees and/or accelerated rent within the class period and did not make a payment after receiving such a notice.
• The injunctive relief settlement class does not qualify to submit a claim for a payment but will receive removal of any negative credit reporting related to the fees.

The class properties included in this settlement are:

• College Park at Midtown
• Gainesville Place
• IQ Luxury
• Lexington Crossing
• Lux 13
• Museum Walk
• Oxford Manor
• The Reflections
• Seminole Grand
• The Crossing at Santa Fe
• The Enclave
• The Landings at Appleyard
• The Landings
• The Preserve at San Luis
• West10

How much is the class action settlement payout?

• Cash refund: Actual damages settlement class members can submit a claim to receive a cash refund for accelerated rent and accelerated late fees charged for periods after the lease between Jan. 1, 2017, through Aug. 21, 2024. Class members will also receive waiver and cancellation of any outstanding balance for accelerated rent and late fees and removal of any negative credit reporting.
• Injunctive relief: Injunctive relief class members will receive removal of any negative credit reporting for accelerated rent and late fees. The defendants will no longer attempt to collect the unpaid fees.

How to claim a class action rebate

To receive a settlement payment, actual damages class members must fill out the claim form included with their settlement notice and mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Raji v The Collier Cos., c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 23678, Jacksonville, FL 32241

Class members must postmark claim forms by Feb. 24, 2026.

Injunctive relief class members do not qualify to receive a payment and do not need to submit a claim to receive the injunctive relief settlement benefits.

Required claim information

• All claimants must provide the last four digits of their Social Security number, the address of the property where they were a tenant or guarantor, and the approximate period of tenancy.
• Claimants submitting a claim with a name change must include a copy of the marriage license, divorce decree or court order.
• Individuals submitting on behalf of a deceased class member must provide a copy of the death certificate and documentation showing they are the legal beneficiary.
• Those submitting an address change must provide the Notice ID and PIN from the settlement notice they received.

Payout options

Eligible class members will receive a paper check mailed to the address provided on the claim form.

$300,000 settlement fund

The $300,000 settlement fund will include:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' fees and costs: To be presented to the court for approval at a later date
• Service awards to class representatives: $5,000 each ($10,000 total)
• Payments to approved claimants: Total determined by number of claims filed and fees refunded

Important dates

• Exclusion/opt-out deadline: Jan. 25, 2026
• Claim deadline: Feb. 24, 2026
• Final fairness hearing: March 19, 2026

When is the Collier Cos. and Paradigm Properties Management settlement payout date?

Within 45 days of final approval, the defendants will take the necessary steps to remove negative credit reporting related to the collection of accelerated rent and fees. The settlement administrator will issue payments to eligible actual damages class members approximately 60 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

This class action lawsuit alleged that The Collier Cos. and Paradigm Properties Management Team violated Florida law by demanding accelerated rent and/or accelerated late fees from former tenants after lease termination. The plaintiffs claimed these practices violated the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act and the Florida Consumer Collections Practices Act.

The companies deny any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the case to avoid the cost and uncertainty of further litigation.

Sources

1. Settlement website FAQ page
2. Class action settlement agreement
3. Key dates