julta/ dvy) f 'erk charlottesville division u (.ar' x ...€¦ · janyce lewis,ç! gl=...

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTFOR THE W ESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA

CHARLOTTESVILLE DIVISION

CLERK'S OFFICE U,S. DIST. COURTAT ROANOKE, VA

FI . -

, y s 2212J .(

J U Lu/t A D VY f E R K. ) '. V I

(. r' xAJANYCE LEW IS, ç! gl=

Plaintiffs, Civil Action No. 3: 12-cv-00026

By: Hon. Glen E. ConradChief United States District Judge

CHARLOTTESVILLE REDEVELOPMENTAND HOUSING AUTHORITY, ç1 gJ.,

Defendants.

This case is presently before the court on the plaintiffs' m otion for prelim inary

certification of a settlement class and preliminary approval of a settlement reached with the

Charlotlesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ddCRI-1A'') and Constance Dunn. The

court held a hearing on the plaintiffs' motion on November 4, 2013. Having considered the

motion, the supporting memorandum and declarations, the terms of the setllement agreement

filed on September 30, 2013 (the ûisettlement Agreemenf), and the arguments presented in open

courq it is hereby

ORDERED

as follows:

Pursuant to Rules 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the

court preliminarily finds, for settlement purposes only, that the prerequisitcs to class certification

have been met as to the tdsettltment Class'' detined below, in that: (a) the Setllement Class is so

numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable; (b) there are questions of law or fact

common to the Settlement Class; (c) the daims of the nnmed plaintiffs are typical of the daims

of the Settlement Class; (d) the named plaintiffs will fairly and adequately represent the interests

Case 3:12-cv-00026-GEC Document 83 Filed 11/06/13 of 40 Pageid#: 1028

of the Settlement Class; (e) the questions of 1aw and fact common to the members of the

Settlement Class predominate over any questions affecting only individual members; and (9 a

class action is superior to other available methods for fair and efticient adjudication of the

controversy. Accordingly, the court grants the plaintiffs' motion for preliminary certification,

and provisionally approves, for settlement puposes only, the following Settlement Class:

A1l current and form er Charlottesville public housing residents

since June 7, 2007 who were subject to CRHA'S 2003 resolutionregarding utility allowances.

2. The court also preliminarily finds that the terms of the Settlement Agreement are

(a) fair, reasonable, and adequate in light of the relevant factual, legal, practical, and procedural

considerations of the action; (b) free of collusion to the detriment of the members of the

Settlement Class; and (c) within the range of possible final judicial approval, subject to further

consideration at the Fainzess Hearing described in paragraph 37 of this order. Accordingly, the

court grants the plaintiffs' motion for preliminary approval of the Settlement Agreement.

The court preliminarily appoints plaintiffs Janyce Lewis, Deborah Cooper,

Clarissa Folley, Harold Folley, Earletla Gladden, and Telambria Tinsley as Class Representatives

for the Settlem ent Class.

4. The court conditionally appoints the following 1aw firm and attomeys as Class

Counsel for the Settlem ent Class:

Brenda CastM eda, VSB //72809

[email protected]

Thomas D. Dom onoske VSB #35434

[email protected]

Alex Gulotta, VSB # 37097

[email protected]


LEGAL A1D JUSTICE CENTER1000 Preston Avenue, Suite ACharlottesville, Va. 22903PHONE 434-977-0553 x 103

FAX 434-977-0558

1f, for any reason, the Settlem ent is not tinally approved or does not becom e

effective, this provisional settlement approval and class certifcation order shall be null and void,

and shall not be used or referred to for any purpose in this action or any other action or

proceeding.

Prospective Relief for Tenants

lf no appeal is tiled from a final order in this case, then thirty days after entry of a

final judgment approving this class settlement, the following terms of prospective relief shall

takc effect.

The CRHA electricity allowances will be based on the 2010 21+

recommendations, derived from the 2010 HUD calculator, set forth in Attachment 1 .

These allowances will continue for a period of tive years.

The rate applied to excess electric charges shall be $.074 per kilowatt hour

exceeding the allowance. This rate will continue in effect for a period of five years.

1 0. 'l'he tenants of each of the 251 units actually charged for utilities shall receive a

credit of $15.00 per month, to be applied ibr thirty-six (36) months from the date of settlement.

Such credits shall be applied at the tenant's discretion.

The tenants of each of the 251 units actually charged tbr utilities shall receive a

credit of $5.00 per month for twenty-four (24) months thereafter. Such credits shall be applied at

the tenant's discretion.

3


This credit shall be on the account of the household assigned to each of the 251

units actually charged for utilities, to be used fbr any purpose associated with the lease.

CRHA shall promulgate an individual relief policy prohibiting CRHA from

charging tenants who are elderly, disabled, ill, or otherwise have special needs for usage of

electricity beyond their control. Thirty days prior to implementing the policy, CRHA shall

plovide a draft policy to plaintiffs for comments or suggestions. CRHA will consider and decide

any requests for relief under this policy within ten days of the request.

CRFIA shall further notify tenants of the right to request relief from the

im position of utility stlreharges upon im plem entation of the policy, upon their adm ission into the

publie housing program, at their initial lease execution, and at their annual recertification

appointments. This notification shall be in m iting and will state the right to challenge the denial

of any request for relief in accordance with CRHA'S grievance procedure.

Retroaetive Relief for Former and Current Tenants

On Jtlly 2, 2013, defendants deposited $ 160,000.00 into Ivegal Aid Justice

Center's Client Trust Account at BB&T. These funds and the interest that accrues on them are to

be distributed as described below.

$94,500.00 to be distributed to tenants who paid excess eledricity

consum ption surcharges incurred between June 7, 2007 and M ay 31, 2013;

$6,600.00 to be distributed to tenants who did not incur excess electric

charges for one or more years between January 1, 2008 and December 3 l ,

2012, and were eligible to receive the $50.00 savings bond;

$6,000.00 for incentive awards of $ 1,000.00 to each of the Class

4


Representatives for pursuing the claims, to cover the expenses incurred for

attending meetings and hearings as well as personal tim e spent advancing

the litigation, and the personal risk they took in speaking out for their

rights;

$50,000.00 for atlorneys' fees; andd.

e. Up to $2,000.00 for the costs of administering the settlement.

16. The CRHA has identiûed 427 current and form er CRHA tenants who paid excess

electric utility consum ption charges incurred between June 7, 2007 and M ay 31, 2013.

The total amount of excess utility consumption surcharges eligible for

reimbursement is $288,717.24 (see Attachment 2). Current and former CRHA tenants eligible

for reimbursement payments are identified by numbers in Attachment 2 along with the nmounts

they are entitled to receive.

18. Al1 current and former tenants will receive an am ount equivalent to at least 33.043

percent of the excess utility conslzmption fees charged to them between June 7, 2007 and M ay

31, 2013, and paid by them.

Current and form er tenants who stayed below their total annual electric utility

allowance between January 1, 2008 and December 31 , 2012 and, thus, were eligible for a $50

savings bond pursuant to the 2003 CRHA Board Resolution, will receive $50.00 for each year

that they were eligible. The househelds eligible for the $50 bonds are identified by number in

Attachment 3 to this order.

Settlem ent Adm inistration Fees

5


20. Class Counsel will be responsible for providing notice to all class members and

distributing the settlement proceeds, and will receive actual costs up to $2,000.00 out of the total

settlem ent amount as administration costs for doing so.

Notice of Rizht to Reim bursem ent

W ithin 10 days of preliminary approval by the court of this Settlem ent

Agreement, Class Counsel will mail the attached Notice of Class Action Settlement (Attachment

4) to each of the Class Members. The Notice of Class Action Settlement describes: the nature of

this action; the definition of the class certitied; the class claims and issues raised; the proposed

am ounts to be distributed for reimbursement; the percentage of excess utility fees that class

mem bers will be reim bursed; the fact that Class M embers have the right to hire an attorney; the

fact that the court will exclude any m em ber who requests exclusion; the time and manner for

requesting exclusion; and the binding effect of a class judgment on class members. This Notice

also advises Class Members that they may contact Class Counsel if they would like further

inform ation.

Class Counsel will mail the Notice based on addresses provided by CRHA for

current and former residents. For those notices returned as undeliverable or where Class Counsel

otherwise reasonably believe an address is incorrect, Class Counsel shall m ake reasonable efforts

to locate and contact those Class M embers, and CRHA shall cooperate in those efforts.

Class Counsel will file a notice with the court upon com pletion of the mailing.

Class Counsel shall also post the Notice of Class Action Settlement on their

website and shall provide links to the Settlement Agreement and the pleadings in this case.


25. CRHA shall post the Notice of Class Action Settlement in a prominent location at

each of the public housing sites that are the subjects of this lawsuit, and link to it on the public

housing page on the City of Charlottesville website.

If the Notice of Class Action Settlem ent sent to any current or fonuer resident is

returned because the intended recipient is deceased, then notice shall be mailed to the executor,

administrator, or personal representative of the decedent's estate if Class Counsel has been

provided valid third party documentation confirming that such individual has been qualified to

serve in this capacity.

Obiection. lnten ention. or Opt-out

lf a Class M em ber or Class Counsel disagrees with the determination as to the

member's eligibility for reimbursement or the amount of the reimbursement, the individual Class

Member, Class Counsel, and the CRHA shall jointly review the Class Member's payment ledger,

and any other docum entation to determ ine if a discrepancy exists. lf the CRHA, Class Counsel,

and the Class M em ber are unable to reach an agreement as to the m ember's entitlement to relief,

the Class M ember m ay file an enforcem ent action in this court.

28. Any payment or form of other consideration provided to any intervenor or

objector must first be presented to the court for approval by motion. The motion that is made on

behalf of any objector or intervenor must separately identify the consideration to be provided to

the objector or intervenor, any atlomeys' fees that are to be paid, and the benefit that the objector

or intervenor conferred upon the class.

29. Any Class M ember who wishes to be excluded from the Settlement Class and

not be bound by the Settlement Agreement must mail a request for exclusion (''Opt-Out'') to

Class Counsel postmarked no later than Decem ber 27, 2013. For a Class M ember's Opt-out to


be valid, it must state the Class M ember's intent to be excluded from the Setllement Class, to

not participate in the Settlement distribution, and to waive all rights to the benefts of the

Settlement. Any Class M em ber who does not subm it a tim ely and valid Opt-out, shall be

bound by the Settlement Agreement and any Final Judgment entered in the action. Further,

any Class Member who submits a timely and valid Opt-out will be deemed to have waived

any rights or benefits under the Settlement, and will not have standing to object to the

Settlement or to seek to intervene in the adion. Class Counsel shall file any requests to opt

out with the federal district court within 10 days of receiving the requests.

Distribution of m onev

30. Each nam ed plaintiff and Settlement Class M em ber's proportionate total share

of the Settlem ent Ftmd to be distributed from the Settlem ent Fund will be calculated as

follows:

a. Each named plaintiff and Class M ember who does not opt out and

whose identifying number appears on Attaclunent 2 will receive

their percentage recovery for electricity surcharges between June

7, 2007 and M ay 31, 2013 as listed in Attachm ent 2.

Each named plaintiff or Class M ember who does not opt out and

whose identifying number appears on Attachment 3 will receive

a payment of $50.00 for each year identified in which that

b.

nam ed plaintiff or Class M ember did not exceed their annual

electrical allowance.

ln consideration for their comm itm ent to the pursuit of the claim sC.


in this adion on behalf of themselves and the Class, $6,000.00 of the

Settlement Fund will be paid to the individual named plaintiffs in this

adion. This represents an incentive award of $1,000.00 to each named

plaintiff for participation as a Class Representative to cover the expenses

incurred for attending meetings and hearings as well as personal tim e spent

advmw ing the litigation and the personal l'isk they took in speaking out for

their rights.

Disposition of Unelaimed Fund, (Cv Pres)

31 . Any unclaim ed funds in the escrow account as of six m onths after the checks

have first been disbursed, shall be distributed to the Albemarle Housing Improvement Project

(AHIP), to be held in trust for the use by then-current tenants of CRIIA facilities for mondary

assistance toward the purchase of energy-efficient cooling equipment or energy-efticiency

improvem ents.

Attornevs' Fees and Costs

32. This Settlement includes $50,000.00 in attorneys' fees, payable to Legal Aid

Justice Center, which represents only a portion of the total holzrs spent by plaintiffs' attorneys on

this case multiplied by the lodestar rates of those attorneys representing reasonable rates for

attorneys of comparable experience in the same market area.

Class Counsel m ay receive the actual costs of Settlement administration up to

$2,000.00 out of the total Settlement amount.

Notice Pursuant to the Class Action Fairne- ss Act

W ithin 10 days of the parties' filing this Settlement Agreem ent with the court,

Defendants will, pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act ($iCAFA''), mail the notice and


docum ents required by CAFA to the Attorney General of the United States and to the

Attorney General of the Comm onwealth of Virginia.

35. Defendants shall file a notice with the court upon completion of the required

CAFA mailings.

Fairness H earinz

36. A hearing (the Fairness Hearing) shall be held before this court on Janual'y 13,

20 14, at 2:00 p.m., to hear objections and determine: (a) whether the proposed Settlement and

comprom ise of this action as set forth in the Settlement Agreement is fair, reasonable, and

adequate to the Class Members and should be approved by the court; (b) whether the Final

Judgment should be entered approving the Settlement; (c) whether to approve the request of

Class Counsel for payment of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of administration expenses;

and (d) whether to approve the request of Class Representatives for incentive awards.

37. Any interested person m ay appear at the Fairness Hearing to show cause why

the proposed Settlement should or should not be approved as fair, reasonable, adequate, and in

good faith and/or why the request of Class Counsel for approval of attorneys' fees and

expenses and litigation-related reimbursements should or should not be approved as fair and

reasonable. However, no person shall be heard or entitled to contest the approval of the terms

and conditions of the proposed Settlement or the fees, costs, and reimbursements requested by

Class Counsel, unless that person (i) has sent or delivered written objections and copies of any

supporting papers and briefs so that they are received no later than December 27, 20 13, to

Class Counsel at the above addresses, and to counsel for CRHA and Constance Dtmn at:

James M. Bowling, St. John, Bowling, Lawrence and Quagliana, LLP, 416 Park Street,

Charlottesville, VA 22902, and (ii) has filed objections, papers and briefs, showing proof of


service upon said cotmsel, with the Clerk of the United States District Court for the W estenz

District of Virginia, 255 W . Main Street, Room 304, Charlottesville, VA 22902, on or before

the same date. Any Class Member who does not submit an objection as provided above shall

be deemed to have waived any objection to the Settlement and shall forever be forbidden from

making any objection to class certification, to the fairness, adequacy, or reasonableness of the

Settlement, and to the reimbursements or any attorneys' fees approved.

38. Al1 m em oranda, affidavits, declarations, and other evidence in support of the

request for final approval of the Settlem ent; Class Counsel's request for approval of attorneys'

fees, costs, and reimbursement of expenses; and Class Representatives' request for approval

of incentive awards paym ents shall be tiled on or before January 7, 2014.

39. The court may adjourn the Fairness Hearing from time to time without further

notice other than to counsel of record, and may approve the proposed Settlement, the request

for approval of attorneys' fees and expenses, and the request for approval of Class

Representative incentive awards at or afler the originally scheduled Faimess Hearing.

Continuins J-urisdietion

40. The court shall have continuing jurisdiction, during the term of this Agreement, to

enforce this Settlement Agreement's terms, and to enforce the Final Judgm ent.

NENTER; This Y day of November, 2013.

Y A

Chief United States District Judge


ATTACHMENTS

2010 21> consum ption study with schedule of allowances.

List of tenants due a reimbursement (identified by numbers) with amount of charges

eligible for reimbursement.

List of tenants due a $50 payment for each year they remained tmder the mmual utility

allowance (identified by numbers) with total amount to be reimbursed.

Notice form .


EXH IBIT 1

To Proposed Prelim inary Order


# #

Sorpublk hof/l/n:

Date; 12-17-2010Organization:Location-'

Group Name:

Unit Type: Apartment Units (5+ units per building)Unlt Age: Before 1989Cooking Resource: Natural GasW ater Heating Resource: Natural GasHeating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No

Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing AuthorityCrescent Halls

Monthly Utility Allowance

Bedrooms Electricity Natural Gas Bottled Gas Fuol OiI W ater Sewer

1 304 kwh N/A N/A N/A 4 ccf N/A. : k?ïL.ï t : .. .h -.....'.-..- I ,E.,( ,. :..;:i-i.i i' ,:.L) ;àt;h.. ; . 7 - . khii.. -i1 ::;,k- . ù . ik?. ,C;';/,E 11.1.' ) '-.-.' ' :.é@ ). 2 , ,!E .1 qL., t .... ( qiti.; ( ! 1,k-ql kà K. -L ' - t.!:-i1i(kJ1 i, x) 7(11. -. : . .,..: ....') )) q ::. : .. . !) I .: - . ( .. t liih-l!-;i ikrlk lii. 7 ë ;. . i):.Ir:k: i jr.).tr .,.,)1F.. C1 2(-fji;;:). @..ô Iàk-lf j?- àt'bLL Ct' '' . 2 . 4 ZL :.' :' ; . ... L ' . ' c 7.i..:: k .: ,. :a1;#... '. : '.: . .''11'. .. .pI r 1,2. l .. I'lk. . . n. . 11.. . . . L'L h f. ; i t).' é !.l ',: ..: i ' :'2 . ! : ''..r'.. .1.11;. . . 1' 33'::3.. . :. ) 11>11. :. *. . &.... .(q . ; è :. .L k . ..)t :7..... J 'è. i :.r r'ï L .:: k? :ï3 ...g: r.h.'q '.LI...LL r!.?1I.. . .. 0r. . H. .. . i q '':'''='. : s::;. J!'.'r.. ... ,:b.1 M-.... . ,..I..r) :è2: 42y.7 ëg)( '; E I'qllrk ; :.. . 't. . O.. . .. .. è

*N/A - No allowances specified for lndicated resotlrce


$or ptzhlk llmlsïtlp

Date: 12-17-2010Organization: Charlnttesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority

Location: MadisonGroup Name: IUnit Type; Duplexes, Row Houses. TownhousesUnit Age: 1980 - 1995Cooking Resource: Natural Gas

W ater Heating Resource: Natural GasHeating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No


Bedrooms Eleclricity Natural Gas Bottled Gas Fuel OiI W ater Sewer

2 348 kwh N/A N/A N/A 6 ccf N/A

AN/A - No allowances specified for Indjcated resource

ll li If I

I II lI II I

jr::::::::::::2::: :': r r ! :q : 7 :7 2: 7E EEEE E E EEE JEEE EEEEL .......j -. .. LELL...L.E. - ..L- ........ià .;....x -.;...- -. -. - . z '


J #

;rthr ttst 1)//: /)()lt$l?1!;

nas : j w joa jnOrganization: Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing AuthorityLocation: MichieGroup Name; l

Unit Type: Duplexes, Row Houses, TownhousesUnit Age: 1980 - 1995Cooking Resource: Natural GasW ater Heating Resourcez Natural GasHeating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No

Monthly Utility AllowanceBedrooms Electricity Natural Gas Bottled Gas Fue! OiI W ater Sewer

2 348 kwh N/A N/A N/A 6 ccf N/A'

( 'r. ( jè..(.rljjj!. (. 'j::.'. kgq. ''' '' () jyy j1. ' j'jjjj;''j é. 7.'jIj5jj q;jjj;' ..j.j.'.((. ' ' I.é.. .. .....'4L' . j: :'j .j'$ jy,ry ' '.L)'L y: i.:j: 'r'' . '('. g. ( : '(. jij'j t;jj:L;jL3 . j)(' j;jj((;' . tj 'j p,'?. y ':J (. . . 2k . 't.'y L L' . )j;. 'j j j y ((; : .': j( jj'j .il J J)! . .F ?j 'j.jij q : jjjjk' C.:(jkggg. '. k (k(..' y''':jj ,g(!1 't ( '' jgjxyq jjjqtjj. !L. (jj;j;jyjgg' C )(E .:. Eè ((. - : , .-- -.- ëi. ..'r-..'. :.ë.:-,..))...;q... .- ,'..k -..;è--.: : . .-:.-. '- --Ei;...- ... .. - ... ...... iiïk:.... -.. , .... . ... t-... ët').. è,! .E :- è.k:. .'.:..(..-.- .... CIE: ri)E-l-:. ;-..- . ;'.ï..((-.-. . .. ,. . -.... -. .E'E .. (, 1t'-:t1!... . . , . ... ,. , -. @...êI k'.. .- . ...... :. ..E-......t -..-ë: ;-/ :-... ?.. .. fj.i.? :-i--E :-. ii'iLkii. . Liiè'. .k;iiikhk-.. ..-.... bq'ï .k -.;;-..E . .. ..... .- . ... .. ..., . . .,:.; .ï.-.bI; ..-.' :-... .. .... .. . . .. . ;.g

IN/A - No allowances specified for indicated resource

t li i

Y::::tt 2 2:1 -I: J. rlz' .. - -- -- --.....- . ..---. -


# #

.((,r ?JI?/)/fC /)()kt$ 3?'f?

Date: 12-17-2010Organizatlon: Charlottosvillo Redevelopment and Housing Authorily

Locatfon; RiversideGroup Name: I

Unit Type: Duplexes, Row Houses, TownhousesUnit Age: 1980 - 1995Cooking Resource: Natural Gas

Water Heating Resource: Natural GasHeating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No


Bedrooms Electricity Natural Gas Bottled Gas Fuel OiI W ater Sewer

3 481 kwh N/A N/A N/A 9 ccf N/A

*N/A - No allowances specified for indicated resource


: #

kççtt /:111)1?4 Ibz'éti 1?1f;

Date: 12-17-2019Organization: Chartottesville Redevelopment and Housing AuthorltyLocatlon: Single Family HomosGroup Name: DetachedUnit Type: DetachedUnit Age: 1980 - 1995Cooklng Resource; Natural GasWater Heating Resource: Natural GasHeating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No

Monthly Ulility Allowance


3 565 kwh N/A N/A N/A 1 1 ccf N/A


p

'

1 II I! !

:' ---' E :::2:::7 7= rr-rr !::7:::7::::rt::::(7r:EE::?77'?)7' 7 7T=EEEE EECEEELE: : E J: ! ICJC' ' 7J ;:--- -'''''''''' ''' '--' ' ' ' ' ' ' '' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' --: ::: .. . u k;;:k--..-;tL2-.2. 2 :: - :-é.. . .... . . . -...- .


# #

Jorlwbtk 11pu5/?l:

Date: 12-17-2010Organization: Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housjng AuthorityLocation'. Single Family HomesGroup Name: Multifamily

Uoit Type; Multiple Famlly (2-4 units)Unit Age: 1980 - 1995Cooking Resource'. Natural GasWater Haating Resourc:: Natural Gas 'Heating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No


Bedrooms Electricity Natural Gas Bottled Gas Fuel OiI W ater Sewer. 3 4 1 6 kwh N/A N/A N/A 1 1 ccf N/A

*N/A - No allowances specifïed for indicated resource

( l : 1 5 :L: '.M EELLEEZEE ' ' ' ' ' - ' ' '''' '' ' ''' ' ' ' '' '' ' ' ' '(( (E(((((( (((( EE ( lE: 2E7 E E E EE EE EEEEE EE E EZ :E: LSLECL:EEZE EEZ jLL E E E E r. ''x>''-œ----x-' ' w ''*' -' - -'wN' xh---,.-d'k- ' ' ' ,#.-au. ' ' '' ' ' ' a 'ue* **œ*&>-bw *-.' -' Rw <-w**' *>- -*%''*- -'- -' -''' --'' --'' -''<- ' ' - ' ' '''-' -'m''' *- ' -'.<'---''-M' --*e' '-- e-mem '---> x-'-- ----- uw'w-:( I u'= > 22


J #

forpvbuc llows/og

Date: 12-17-2010Organization: Charlottesville Redeveiopment and Housing AuthorityLocation: Sixth Street

Group Name: IUnit Typm: Duplexes, Row Houses, TownhousesUnit Age: 1980 - 1995Cooking Resourco: Natural GasWater Heating Resource; Natural GasHeating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No


Bedrooms Electricity Natural Gas Bottled Gas Fuel Oil W ater Sewer

3 481 kwh N/A N/A N/A 9 ccf N2A


!

r

l11f I

1 1

2 . .. . ... .. ........ . .. - . . . . 2;:;;yk;: :; $ .. :L r.: E :LE E.é 7.zLl= : .. : ; ktEr :E. ::


# :

lbtpvblk ll()tlJ?lp

Date: 12-17-2010Organization'. Charlottesvifle Redevelopment and Houslng AuthorityLocation: South 1st StreetGroup Name: 1Unlt Type; Duprexes, Row Houses, TownhousesUnkt Age: 1980 - 1995Cooking Resource: Natural GasW ater Heating Rpsource: Natural GasHeating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No

Monthly Ulility Allowance


1 252 kwh N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A' .' . . i' j'' ! ? ' . k y '' ) tyj' :':i t j : ,''J J 7 : J': 7: 1. ' : t't:4. .' ; i .: : ; '! ' ( 'j t' ; ) ! (:' ' EE ?.'t )' ? :: ' ( ;' j ; t2' '' : ' ': ' : . ' : t :1. '' ';: ;' : rq ' ' ; : ' ( ) ; ' j . J '( E' j ' ' r: 7i' : :1;:'' è ' .q. $) - -: . ( j.g,1. : jjj. ;. j1r ,yjj.i ) ) )L; ; ! j . ijj!j. . .))j ..k Jr-.pj.))q 1tjjl.. . iiitk ljëj Jty.ë (- . ;i)?k;I. .. 1gr)j. jjjsi: ..j jjl-j :.t. .-! qt(é. ;'j(t 1k;!)'C k( ; ; i:, .)yï)ï'. 1,kk)k j/â )C)- f. (;(q i4tti#. , . jh. .( tJ)k) (. li .148 1! )(. il I 1) ;1 glïl jtl' ). (/@: (tji è:i j)) ) j.),jq7 -j.t!;j. jh'-iktjk;i ftj ,yjF@t jilt 'jp-.j)tt;(j. -/ id:til (/;' j41bbk. )y.yè :y ô( .:.j; j, .5.: ) fj jjtkji. , j;;. é. )t.i '.li ' ! . .. ë.. .. . i :. j) l .ï.1 ::.'J .: ri ....:.. ..s . ? . : : : F . ?. . :â .-. (.. . . ,. ;.. . .t. ë :... :. . .. ?i::i: / .1:; (ïf)i.jE, ër).2.E :. ( ë :ji . .à ..,: . :.....:. , ::..,( (F . . . q ..tj?, -..i. ! -s: -, k.: i ! k : lt k'i . i..r(i p. .i ;;t(iEI . 3 l:è. . J ,f. ;:îL. ': : .. ;F.::;....., : : 4 (-::.,t:: r.. ! t.zj,.... :-. :. - ..::. :ë r . ...L .E:.):- :.u. .:: - . : .,. (

3 481 kwh N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A'

jjrjjë ','j'j..yl'jj jy L;y)jj)j j'lkry ï(E!:)iI kE:èL:' .!' ï.j )jët.ê F F j :7'71. ' 7jq; 7 : Fgi 'ï 7): 5:(J ''I '. )) j)jk'' ' Ly(:j(!)j)Ty../ kj(:'j: jy E::1@: ?) 7 (:jj .jjE12;'/: ' 7SE(((72:.7 kj( TjJ ljjtglj. '.jëj @'2):.q'F :'fJ( (((y j:'jj.lgksyjjq 572!: @ 721 ;! kjjk jj ; (jj':jj.tjk7 : f $: 7! jjty, ; ( ,)'j,j jy.jjt.ljjykj:li'' 1:L i k!' j-..--k6 (E.-. - -...b. s.,.?i ?.. q),'C(.y - t-...).- . ,.î.-.L-- L:i!!tIp.. ...-..- :.-i. :.k.iq;,.;'. :t'Ei5l:- --.. .-..36b--. . . ..

.

':;iïï.'... .- .y ,.1l:t;:. -,...,bi,'bè',L. .-- 1i:r,I- .- ::

'

.-.ë. ; !:. ;.--:- i..- f.. -).-- i-pfï-f f . L;L.- ..-.-;.ë. - r--fr: .

. -. 114,-,11. -. ,---34'-..- -jy..-dqit,l-'-. ..:...ir ffi 11.,--11--. . ...:-','. -- -k;,!p''k.-.. -. s (. gy. .- . t: : :..ry:!. /t'.r!-.-:;-..k rk y- -iï;.:.ïq..à :.!:.è'..)ii.t?.f tg.r;-.:-.-;.t: )- - :ï g-. )-J$.-p-.lI-'-'ll:-- -..,44-..,. d#4sr,!-t.....- . . ;?ë.- t'ëqp.E;f.-.--.f,ir r?-.. ,. - ..--;?'- . .-'i!?''., -. -..-----.- -'.tïF.-( s.-k. ;- Lï.L;-L (q-,. -.-. -. .-dk''- ,.,,,333333. --

.F;i..) . , . . ..

5 673 kwh N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A


i l

7 -/177 :: :7'!r!E((7 E E E EEE E EE E EE EEEE.. ... ..22... .E ...L ..m. $,., ..... ......... ............ .... . --x. k:L L 22: -:- L. - . . .


: #

jotpublk hold/ap

Date; 12-17-2010Organization: Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing AuthorityLocation: Westhaven

Group Name: lUnit Typp; Duplexes, Row Houses, TownhousesUnit Age: Before 1980Cooking Resource; Natural GasW ater Heating Resource: Natural Gas

Heating Resource: Natural GasHeat Pump? No



1 252 kwh N/A N/A N/A N/A N/Ajjlj'qï i).'7 .'.?J à;: Jj :'' . ;(' '..': r7'j' j,L''.' qrfj''ëg;;jjr,.

'' ' .r.'.E '' '(y:',y.'.'tjjjjj, ;jkjjj,. gjjjjkg ).'jjjj(j... )à4))))).. . ;. jjqy4;. ..' ;' ,y't.rj 4.4..y.(.,2 ; y. 'Jry... :.. , . ty yrhy ! g !: jjkt(jjj' :;jjr. j))Lqqàà(' rjjj j2' jjyjttjjg j)jtjjqjjà)L,. . .(((.j...j..j% '.7i,'ti (7j. !y,j: rtljr'k' (.; ljt yj(;'j.)j,4. : j(' l i:: jj ((':!: jj:j.2;j,)ky; jjjk;tjt'. jj;;L,))))q))j).f).) t1 ,jjlj: jj.tty'jk'y.j.j. rjjktktjj' . j)(fj)4)qjà)j.. j' jj,': y. tjï.'j'k).j(,l;jj.ty (y jjygj(jj. 33433'33:4j6333.% .sj()jj' . ! 2; r . l k ..iiè ''' l f) :.'- .:. ;...... . . . .;. ::. f. ... .. . .- .. . -... . ! . .- .: . .;-....-. : . , , . .... ; - ,. . - ( E.' .. (:.- . rj . :.-.. r... ;:.. , - k, ...... .i- . ...:-, .ï-- -. .. ,. :. .. -.-... s ,.LL .-:.i.. ( . --: .: : :.E -:é.- ;-y..E : ). ty.@!:( t). - ().(E ,.k(. ,:y . . ...-. ..-..--:. - :.-.....q- k-ï.i...j.- -... . .. . :......: . .-. q... s;.,-.q .. : -. ;'-..k.(q.. . t. . . .. : .. ;.. -.. - r-. f?. :2 . ' :

'

:

3 481 kwh N/A N/A N/A N/A N/Ar . . ...f. . fè. .... / ë.'. -. .. '..:..'E.-. ... :-.-i-)fi;..ëj -kp!ik...-:--........ .@- (: r.;- ;.-.:..1!iiiir-.- . ..

.j;'ïï;.

- . .à'jbiiL-.

- . k)j;;'ikkké)..- . ibjijijii'-.-,... -. 1224k1. - -. ;...- isi;r t-i.@. p.- p,.ëi. --.L.j-ï.k.-Lb.. .r .!-. t.; ../. p.. ;. ,f.)..:k..-.---. -. -. -- . .. ..ë. tt-- ....---- .-..- -. - ..,--. j.):.-..-r-. , .-.q ..:ë.. êf..(-t ,j..);-. t...)j?)).t'.gy ,y : ).'(y-ë-?E. . J:E;k tï-y)j ty.!- ,(.:.)-.! -..--.,. -..-...-.. --.. -. ,),y 1)..- y(2.,k....;.(.-((y.:. . -.- -y..---.-.-..-.- ..--.ki .!.:,;;jj;:g; itf.- ëj.. i,rq ..-,.--......-. ---... ,. j..-r5 673 kwh N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

*N/A - No allowances specified for lndicated resource


EXHIBIT 2 to Prelim inary OrderTotal excess utilitv charges paid bv tenants incurred between June 7, 2007 and M av 31. 2013

ID Total paid10019 $120.6810024 $15.8910035 $29.9110043 $303,6310056 $478.3110062 $1,488.4910070 $527.6410081 $1,234.3610097 $326.4710100 $510.9210113 $1,069.4310121 $820.4610137 $976.4510145 $2,630.0710159 $745.5610168 $2,262.6610176 $1,178.0010184 $206.6110192 $1:100.7010202 $3,005.5710215 $18.8710228 $1,721.7110231 $2,164,6710244 $588.5310253 $3,033.1410266 $1,966.3410277 $1,765.1910289 $1,053,8810290 $1,206,3710304 $732.6910312 $593.7810320 $150.4110336 $203.5610348 $2,303.6510357 $75.1510361 $147.6810373 $944.7710385 $30.0510399 $749.5610407 $1,710.4310410 $1,029.2310429 $1,356.7310432 $798.94


1044110455104641047810486104931050310516105271053410542105501056910575105881059110606106111062210633106401065410665106791068710698107091071410723107381074610751107671077210780107951080510818108261085210860108711088310894109011091710925


10930109491095810963109741098210996110091101411023110381104611051

11067110721108011095111021111511128111311114411153111661117711189111901120611211

112221123311240112541126511279112871129811303113161132711334113421135011369113751138811391


114011141711425114301144911458114631147411482

1149611505115181152611539115471155211571115831159411604116121162011636116481165711661116731168511699117001171311721117371174511759117681177611784117921180711810118291183211841118551186411878


11886118931190811919119241193511943119561196211970119811199712001

120171202512030

12049120581206312074120821209612105121181212612139121471215212160121711219412208122191222412235122431225612262122701228112297123061231112322123331234012354


1236512379123871239812404124121242012436124481245712461124731248512499125001251312521125371254512559

125681257612584125921260212615126281263112644126531267712689126901270312716127271273412742127501276912775127881279112809128141282312838


1284612851128671287212880128951290712910129291293212941129551296412978129861299313000

1301313021130371304513059130681307613084130921310113117131251313013149131581316313174

13182131961320713210132291323213241132551326413278132861329313308


1331913324133351334313356133621337013381133971340313416134271343413442134501346913475134881349113515135281353113544135531356613577135891359013609136141362313638136461365113667136721368013695137051371813726137391374713752137601377113783


1379413806138111382213833138401385413865138791388713898139041391213920139361394813957139611397313985139991400414012140201403614048140571406114073140851409914103141161412714134141421415014169141751418814191142091421414223142381424614251


14267 $112.2914272 $1,194.4514280 $476.7914295 $32.4114307 $38.5214310 $900.8014329 $331.3014332 $107.98

TOTAL NUM BEROF TENANTS: 427

TOTAL EXCESJ

CHARGM PAID: $288,717.24


EXHIBIT 3 to Prelim inary OrderTenants eligible for $50 vouchers 2008-2012

ID Year10304 200810930 2008111151121112152126531272712750128671289512907129321306813084

1309213163132101326413590137471378313794138061382214307143411435514386101001106711095112111145811673117001191912096121521275012867129071293213068

20082008200820082008200820082008200820082008200820082008200820082008200820082008200820082008200820082008200920092009200920092009200920092009200920092009200920092009


1310113163132101325513264133811359013806139611430714364143781439314406144111475614762147701478114797148021481514828148311484414853148661487714889148901490014913149211493714945149591496814976149841499215002150151502810024150311504415053

20092009200920092009200920092009200920092009200920092009200920102010201020102010201020102010201020102010201020102010201020102010201020102010201020102010201020102010201020102011201120112011


150661507715089150901510615111151221513315140151541516515179151871519815201152171522515230152491525815263152741002415282152961530915314153231533815346153511536715372153801539515405154181542615439154471545215460

201120112011201120112011201120112011201120112011201120112011201120112011201120112011201120122012201220122012201220122012201220122012201220122012201220122012201220122012

TOTAL NUM BEROF VOUCHEM : 132


TOTAL VALUE OF

VOUCHEM : $6,600.00


FEDERAL COURT ORDERED LEGAL NOTICE

YOU MAY A BLE TO G ET M ONEY IN A CLASS ACTIO N SETTLEM ENT.

DID YO U LIVE IN A CHA RLOTTESVILLE HO USING AUTHO RIR UNIT A ND HAVETO PAY EXCESS ELECTRIC UTILITY CHARG ES AT ANY TIM E SINCE JUNE 7,

2007?

The Iawsuit is Lewis et aI. v. Charlottesville Redevelopm ent and Housing Auth. et aI., 3:12cv26.

A FEDERAL COURTORDERED THIS NOTICE. CT IS NOT ASOLICITATION FROM A LAW YER.

This is a court notice to Iet you know about a proposed Settlem ent in this ''classaction'' lawsuit. It tells how you may be able to get money from the Settlement. Youm ay be able to get m oney if you are:

1. A current or former tenant of the Charlottesville Housing Authority (CRHA)2. At any time since June 7, 2007 and

3. You were subject to CRHA'S 2003 resolution regarding utility allowances.This m eans that you lived in a unit where CRHA charged you if your electricity usewas greater than the allowance.

Six tenants and PHAR (Public Housing Association of Residents) filed thelawsuit claiming that CRHA violated the U.S. Housing Act and Virginia Iaw in chargingtenants for excess electricity use. The Iawsuit claim s that CRHA failed to properlyreview its charges and update its electric allowances. Thus, the charges wereunlawful. lt also claims CRHA promised to pay residents a $50 savings bond for eachyear they kept their electric usage below the annual allowance, and that CRHA failedto keep that prom ise.

To settle this case, CRHA has agreed to pay $160,000.00 total and to makechanges that will help current residents. Of this money, $95,400.00 will be splitamong tenants who paid excess utilities since June 7, 2007,. $6,600.00 will be givento tenants who did not exceed the annual utility allowances; $6,000.00 will be splitamong the class representatives', $50,000.00 will be given to Legal Aid JusticeCenter as attorney's fees; and up to $2,000.00 will be used to pay for theadm inistration of the settlem ent.

You paid excess electric charges. If the Coud approves the proposed Settlem ent,each household who Iived in CRHA housing subject to the electric excess charges


since June 7, 2007 and was assessed excess charges will receive as a refund33.043% of what that household paid in excess charges.

The CRHA records in the Iawsuit show that you paid $ in excesselectric charges since June 7, 2007. You will get $ - in a check.

If you think this am ount is wrong, please bring any inform ation you have about whatyou paid to the Legal Aid Justice Center. If you think this am ount seem s right, youneed do nothing and you will get a check from the Legal Aid Justice Center.

You stayed w ithin your electric allow ance. If your household went a calendaryear and did not go over its annual electric allowance, you will get $50.00 for eachyear that you did not go over the annual allowance between June 7, 2007 and July1 , 2013.

The CRHA records in the Iaw suit show that you stayed w ithin yourelectric allowance for the years . You will get $ in acheck.

If you think this am ount is wrong, please bring any inform ation about the years youstayed w ithin your allowance to the Legal Aid Justice Center. If you think this amountseem s right, you need do nothing and you will get a check from Legal Aid.

If you are now a tenant in public housing, you get changes in the billing of electricutility charges.

1 . New allow ances. CRHA w ill set new allowances for electricity based on theaverage electrical use in the Charlottesville area. The allowances are higher than thoseCRHA now uses and will stay in place for at Ieast 5 years.

2. New charges if exceed allow ance. If a tenant goes over the new allowancefor electricity, the tenant will pay 7.4 ( per kilowatt hour of use above the allowance.The rate of 7.4 # per kilowatt hour will also be in place for at Ieast 5 years.

3, $15 monthly credit. Each household with an electricity allowance will receivea monthly credit of $15.00 to its account to be used for electric bills or any othercharges for 36 m onths from the date of this settlem ent. You m ay use the credit as youchoose for charges under your lease.

4. $5 monthly credit. After the 36 months, each household subject to theelectric charges wilf receive a monthly credit of $5.00 to their accounts for another 24m onths.


5. Process to be exem pt from excess charges. CRHA will create new rulesfor households with elderly or disabled mem bers who have special needs for extraefectric usage to ask for an exemption from the excess charges.

You can:Do nothing.............. You will get money as stated above. Please m ake sure the

Leqal Aid Iaw vers have vour riqht address.Exclude yourself...... You w ill get no paym ent. This is the only option that

allow s you to file your ow n Iaw suit against the CRHAabout the Iegal claim s in this case.

Object...................,.You can write to the court saying you do not Iike thesettlem ent. You m ust tell the court w hy.

Get a Iaw yer.............You have the right to get your ow n Iaw yer to representyou if you w ant.

You m ust opt out if you want to exclude yourself from the lawsuit. You w ill NOT getany Settlem ent m oney. But you m ay have the right to bring your own lawsuit againstCRHA w ithin the time allowed by Iaw for the claim s in the Iawsuit. You m ust opt outbefore Decem ber 27, 2013. If you do not opt out by Decem ber 27, 2013, you cannotbring a separate Iawsuit covering the same claim s as the current Iawsuit. Also, theSettlement Agreem ent will not bind you, and you cannot get the settlement money.

To opt out from the class action, you m ust send a Ietter to the Court stating clearlythat you want to opt out of this case, You should send this letter to:

Legal Aid Justice Center1000 Preston Ave., Suite ACharlottesville, VA 22903

lnclude in your Ietter the case nam e, Lewis et al. v. C RHA et aI.. and/or the casenum ber, 3:12-CV-26.

If you choose to opt out of the class action, you should consult a Iawyer as to yourrights. Please do not phone the Court about your decision.


lf you want to object to the settlement, you must file an objection with the Clerk ofthe Coud before December 27, 2013. As a Class Member, you may object tothe settlem ent if you th in k any pad is unfair, unreasonable, and/or inadequate.Federal Judge Glen E. Conrad will hold an in-person hearing at 2:00 P.M . onJanuary 13, 2014, at the United States Coudhouse, 255 W . M ain Street,Charlottesville, VA 22902. He will decide if the settlement is fair, reasonable, andadequate.

thatTo object, you must send a letter stating you object to the settlement in theLewis case. Be sure to include (1) the name of this Iawsuit, Lewis et aI. v. CRHAet al., Case No. 3:12-cv-0026; (2) your full name, current address and telephonenumber; (3) the reasons you object to the settlement; and (4) your signature. Mailthe objection to these three different places so that they get it no Iater thanDecem ber 27, 2013. You also m ust file a statem ent with the Coud that tells thedate you mailed or delivered copies of these papers to Class Counsel andDefense Counsel.

COURTCferk of the CotlrtUnited States District Coud255 W . Main StreetCharfottesville, VA 22902

CLASS COUNSELLegal Aid Justice Center1000 Preston Ave., Suite ACharlottesville, VA 22903

DEFENSE COUNSELJames M. BowlingSt. John, Bowling, Lawrenced Quagliana, LLPan

416 Park StreetCharlottesville, VA 22902

You do not have to be present at the hearing to get your share of thesettlem ent m oney. If you do nothing, you w ill receive your class share, if theJ udge approves the Settlem ent.

If you want m ore inform ation or don't understand this notice, contactLegal A id Justice Center

1-800-578-8111By em ail at brendae iustice4all.orq or

at 1000 Preston Ave., Ste. ACharlottesville VA 22903


julta/ dvy) f 'erk charlottesville division u (.ar' x ...€¦ · janyce lewis,ç! gl=...

Documents