Renters to get water-sewer payments

Apartments - Two billing companies agree to a settlement of improper fees charged in Oregon

Thursday, November 08, 2007

ANNE SAKER The Oregonian

As many as 30,000 Oregon apartment tenants who paid water and sewer bills between 1995 and 2002 could get a piece of a legal settlement that a Multnomah County judge approved this week.

Two companies that billed tenants for water and sewer service during that period have agreed to put up $300,000 to cover claims under the settlement of a 2001 class-action suit. Each tenant who files a claim will get $31.64.

Circuit Judge Marilyn Litzenberger signed off on the settlement Monday.

The suit accused Viterra Energy Services and Aquameter Inc. of charging improper fees to as many as 30,000 tenants of Oregon apartments, including properties managed by two Portland companies, CTL Management and Guardian Management. The charges were $3 to $4 a month on each bill.

The case has not gone to trial. In agreeing to the pretrial settlement, the companies did not acknowledge wrongdoing.

In 2001, tenants Luella Swoboda and Lee Street filed the suit on behalf of the class of tenants.

Shortly after the suit was filed, Viterra and Aquameter voluntarily ended the charges. Guardian officially agreed to end the fees in 2002. In the settlement approved Monday, Viterra, Aquameter and CTL officially agreed to end the charges.

Tenants who believe they may be eligible for a payment can call 877-625-9420 or go online to www.submeterclassaction.com for more information.

Litzenberger scheduled a hearing for April 4 to complete the settlement. Any money left over from the claims pool will be donated to the Oregon Law Center, a nonprofit legal advocacy group that handles landlord-tenant cases.

Anne Saker: 503-294-7656; annesaker@news.oregonian.com