PORTLAND, Maine - A class action lawsuit in Portland is accusing a city landlord of keeping tenants' security deposits when he sold buildings he owned.
The suit against Steve Fowler alleges that tenants were evicted by the buildings' new owners to make way for renovations; but that Fowler had not passed on the deposit money to the new landlords.
Attorney Andy Schmidt of Portland brought the case; he says he's learned that mishandling security deposits is a fairly common practice.
"In Portland there's been this housing shortage and it's getting harder and harder for tenants to find housing. And because of that tenants are somewhat desperate to hang on to the housing they have; and this means the power relationship between the landlords and the tenants is currently favoring the landlords even more than normal."
Schmidt says he's hoping that if he wins this case, it will serve as an example for others whose security deposits have been mishandled - and a warning to landlords.
The named plaintiff in the case is Carl Davis, a formerly homeless veteran; but any tenant of Fowler's over the last six years, who's suffered something similar, can join the class. The suit is seeking damages of two times the security deposit amount, as well as attorney fees and additional compensation.
Reached by phone, Steve Fowler said he had no comment on the case at this time.
