In a recent settlement to protect military members from unlawful housing practices, Attorney General Nick Brown secured an agreement with Olympic Management Company, a Fife-based property manager, for over $46,000 in refunds and interest to be paid to 22 service members. This comes after charges were made for early lease termination, in direct violation of their rights under the Service Members’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA). As reported by the Attorney General's Office, this act protects military personnel from certain financial burdens when duty calls and they must quickly deploy or relocate.
The issue was brought to light when U.S. Army Captain Steven Broyles, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, filed a complaint in March. After a medical retirement required him to cease active-duty service, Olympic Management Company demanded repayment of a rent concession, which Broyles recognized as an illegal charge. Acting upon this, Broyles reached out to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) Consumer Protection Division, an action that eventually cascaded into a broader inquiry and the ensuing refunds.
"Members of the military must be ready to deploy at any moment. They should not have to worry about unfair housing fees when they’re simply trying to serve our country," Brown, whose legal career began in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, said. He emphasized the importance of holding property managers accountable and ensuring financial relief for service members. This sentiment reflects the state's commitment to enforcing the SCRA laws, bolstered by the state legislature's authority granted to the AGO in 2014, as per the Attorney General's Office.
