Apartment property manager JSJ Properties LLC is facing a class action lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court accusing the company of mishandling security deposit funds on behalf of tenants at the company's properties.
The lawsuit was filed by attorneys Joan M. Fentstermaker and Nicholas Bailey, of Joan M. Fentstermaker P.C., and David S. Morris, of the Law Office of David S. Morris, all of Chicago. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of named plaintiff Juan Parkehurst.
The complaint alleges that Parkehurst is a former tenant of JSJ, and resided in a Chicago apartment under their management from August 2016 through December 2018. The complaint asserts he provided the company with a $1,900 security deposit in August 2016 when taking on his initial lease.
Parkehurst alleges that during the time JSJ was in possession of those security deposit funds, the company did not keep them, at all times, in a separate, interest-bearing account containing only tenant security deposit funds, a violation of Chicago’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, according to the complaint. He also alleges that JSJ failed to furnish him with required documents related to consumer disclosure and that a document he was furnished with regarding interest rates was out of date.
The complaint alleges that Parkehurst’s inquiries into the matter led him to the conclusion that JSJ regularly commingles security deposit funds with their own funds and that his experience is one common to the company’s tenants.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages of $100 for each of at least 60 current and former tenants in approximately 50 units managed by JSJ, according to the complaint, plus attorney fees.