A Jacksonville based property management company has been ordered to cough up more than $39,000 in compensation to U.S. military members, after admitting to imposing illegal charges when leases were terminated early due to military relocation orders. The Justice Department announced the settlement with JWB Real Estate Capital, which will also see the company paying a $25,000 civil penalty, while pledging to adjust its policies and training to align with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
The payouts stem from JWB's non-compliance with the SCRA, an act specifically designed to shield military personnel from certain legal and financial burdens while they are in service, the company did not only violate this act but they also betrayed a certain trust that those in uniforms should expect from their compatriots on the home front. In addition to the compensation and civil penalty, JWB Real Estate Capital is mandated to review and revise how it operates to prevent future SCRA violations. In a statement obtained by the Justice Department's release, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon emphasized that military families "shoulder the burden of military-ordered moves and deployments" and it is incumbent on businesses like JWB to facilitate rather than hinder their service.
The SCRA enforcement is a continued effort by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division's Housing and Civil Enforcement Section to protect those who serve in the military from unfair treatment at home. This was not just about correcting wrongful charges, but sending a message that taking advantage of those in service is a matter that will be taken seriously by legal authorities.
Since 2011, the enforcement of SCRA protections has resulted in over $483 million in monetary relief for servicemembers, as "Our servicemembers make tremendous sacrifices to protect the rights and freedoms of our citizens and we will combat all forms of discrimination against them," U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe affirmed the commitment to defend their rights and the Department has certainly put its clout behind that promise with a track record of restitution and remediation that benefits over 148,000 servicemembers to date, according to the Justice Department release.
