Terry et al., v. Wasatch Advantage Group, LLC, et al.

The case U.S. ex rel Terry, et al. v. Wasatch Advantage Group, et al. is a certified California class action and a federal False Claims Act case challenging Wasatch’s charges to Section 8 tenants for items like washers and dryers, renter’s insurance, parking, storage space, and internet and cable services.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California certified two classes of current and former Section 8 tenants at Wasatch properties in California.  Notice to the Reimbursement Class was sent in spring of 2020.  The Injunctive Relief Class is seeking changes to Wasatch’s practices to protect the rights of Section 8 tenants.

In addition to the California class claims, the lawsuit is seeking damages and penalties on behalf of the federal government based on the Section 8 voucher payments that Wasatch accepted while falsely certifying that it was in compliance with Section 8 program rules.

GBDH and co-counsel Law Offices of Andrew Wolff, PC, Centro Legal De La Raza, and Impact Fund have been appointed Class Counsel. If you have questions about this case, please e-mail wasatchclassaction@gbdhlegal.com or call (888) 316-8870.

March 2024 Case Update

We are currently preparing for a trial that we believe will take place in summer 2024.  In that trial, Plaintiffs, on behalf of the U.S. Government, will ask the jury to find Wasatch Property Management liable for submitting false claims for federal funding through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program based on its practices that treated additional services like rent.

Plaintiffs will also ask the Court to order Wasatch to stop threatening Section 8 tenants with eviction for failure to pay additional service charges, to make the additional services fully optional for Section 8 tenants, and to clearly inform Section 8 tenants of their rights.  If you are a current Wasatch tenant and you are interested in supporting our effort to make additional service fees more fair, please contact us at 1-888-316-8870 or wasatchclassaction@gbdhlegal.com.

Trial will build on our successes in the case.  Here are some of the most important orders by the Court:

  • In November 2022, Chief Judge Kimberly J. Mueller of the Eastern District of California ruled that Wasatch violated the Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment Contract and California law by treating additional services charges like rent.  This ruling led to important changes for Section 8 tenants living in properties managed by Wasatch Property Management.  Read more about those changes here.
  • In November 2023, the Court approved a “cut-off date” of November 30, 2022 for the class seeking reimbursement of the fees.  This lawsuit is now seeking reimbursement only for additional service fees paid before December 1, 2022.
  • Most recently, in January 2024, the Court ruled that Wasatch could not deduct its costs from the reimbursements that Plaintiffs are seeking for the class.

Because the lawsuit is not over, there is no money available now, and we are not able to guarantee that you will receive any money.

Case Documents