Kushner's Firm Ordered to Pay $4M to Maryland Tenants

A Baltimore judge, Circuit Judge Paul Cucuzzella, has ruled that Westminster Management, a prominent real estate company co-owned by Jared Kushner, must pay $4.17 million to Maryland tenants. This decision concludes a nine-year legal battle initiated by a class action lawsuit in 2017, which involved over 17,000 past and present tenants across 17 residential properties.

The court found that Westminster Management violated state consumer protection laws by imposing illegal late fees and billing tenants for fictitious court costs. Additionally, a 6% interest rate was added to the penalty, potentially increasing the total payout by another $2 million.

This ruling is not the first for Westminster Management, as the company previously settled similar claims with the Maryland Attorney General in 2022 for $3.25 million. The lead plaintiff, Tenae Smith, emphasized the unfairness of the company's practices, which exploited vulnerable tenants.

The judgment serves as a significant, albeit insufficient, penalty for the company’s predatory actions.