| Date: March 10, 2010 |
$1.15 MILLION SETTLEMENT RECENTLY APPROVED FOR
OWNERS OF LOW INCOME HOUSING UNITS
IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
MIAMI –On March 1, 2010, The Honorable Scott J. Silverman, Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, approved a settlement of more than a million dollars, which ultimately benefits low-income housing residents of Miami-Dade County.
“We’re very pleased with the Court’s approval of the settlement, which is an important step in maintaining the availability of affordable housing in Miami-Dade County,” said lead counsel on the case, Sarah Clasby Engel.
Harke Clasby & Bushman LLP initiated the lawsuit on behalf of RGN Properties, Inc. in 2005 based upon the County’s alleged failure to timely make initial rental payments to owners of low-income housing, thereby making those owners less likely to rent to tenants with Section 8 vouchers. In the first known ruling of its kind, Judge Silverman found that unit owners do have a right to sue under federal law for the County’s failure to timely pay rent.
Under the settlement, thousands of owners of low-income housing will receive cash payments for the County’s alleged failure to timely pay rent. The settlement also provides for injunctive relief designed to ensure that the initial rental payment is timely paid in the future.
The Miami-based commercial litigation and consumer class action law firm of Harke Clasby & Bushman LLP, (www.harkeclasby.com) served as plaintiffs’ lead counsel on the case.
Miami-based Harke Clasby & Bushman LLP was established by founding partner and trial lawyer, Lance Harke in 2000. The firm represents clients throughout the state of Florida and in courts across the country in a wide range of commercial law matters related to commercial litigation, business torts, consumer class actions, securities class actions, product liability, insurance litigation, general civil litigation, general commercial litigation, civil appeals, prescription drug issues, employment matters, bad faith issues, professional malpractice, medical malpractice, and appellate practice.
Contact: Kristine Bruner of Pristine Public Relations, (954) 376-3683, or via e-mail at kristine@pristinepr.com for Harke Clasby & Bushman LLP.
