Settlement Structure: Claims Made
Active: Open
Case Summary:The City of Ocala, Florida is settling a class action alleging that a fire service fee charged to utility customers with their utility bills was an illegal tax and not a user fee. The complaint alleged that the fire service fee was a tax because the bundling with water, sewer, and electric charges was coercive and did not give the payor a free choice; and also that it was used to provide a service normally funded from ad valorem taxes. The court’s original negative decision was appealed, and the appeals court decided in favor of the plaintiffs, requiring the city to refund most of the amounts paid.
Docket Number:2014 CA 000426
Company: City of Ocala, Florida
Filing Deadline: July 1, 2023
Class Period: February 20, 2010 to July 21, 2020
Final Approval Hearing: May 10, 2022
Proof of Purchase:You do not have to provide proof.
Eligibility:You may be eligible if you are an in-city utility customer in Ocala, Florida and you were charged and paid the illegal tax at least once between February 20, 2010 and July 21, 2020.
If you are a class member and have not received your check by the end of July 2022, or if you have moved to a different mailing address, you should submit a claim form at the settlement website.
Typical Settlement Amount:Refund of over 91% of the illegal tax paid.
Total Settlement Amount: $79,282,909.44
Class Representative Proposed Incentive Fee:$50,000
Law Firm:
Bowen & Schroth, PA
Claim Form: City of Ocala, Florida Illegal Fire Service Fee Settlement Claim Form
Case Name: Discount Sleep of Ocala, LLC d/b/a Mattress Warehouse v. City of Ocala, Florida
Settlement Website: City of Ocala, Florida Illegal Fire Service Fee Settlement Website
Claims Administrator:
The Notice Company
CITY OF OCALA FIRE FEE REFUND
C/O THE NOTICE COMPANY
P.O. BOX 455
HINGHAM, MA 02043
admin@ocalafirefee.com
800-241-9840