THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 30 | FEBRUARY 2025 Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. service member $10,225.65, a civil penalty of $3,000 and to provide SCRA training to all of its employees. In October 2023, the DOJ initiated United States v. JAG Management Company LLC (D.N.J.) to enforce the SCRA for nine service members whose landlord required them to repay rent concessions they received at the initiation of their rentals.22 The consent order requires the landlord to pay $41,581.95 to the service members and a $20,000 civil penalty, to adopt new SCRA policies and to obtain SCRA training. In 2019, the DOJ initiated United States v. PRG Real Estate Management (E.D. Va.), asserting that the landlord violated the SCRA by obtaining default judgments against 127 service members without filing affidavits of military service and charging early termination fees for SCRA-related lease terminations to 10 service members.23 The resulting settlement required the landlord to pay $1,490,000 to 127 service members as compensation for the unlawfully obtained default judgments and $34,920 to 10 service members who were charged early termination fees. The settlement agreement also required credit repair for the aggrieved service members, policy changes for the landlord and monitoring by the DOJ to ensure the landlord complied with the requirements of the SCRA. In 2021, the DOJ and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made a joint statement. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ Civil Rights Division stated: “The Department of Justice takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard the rights of servicemembers and veterans. While servicemembers carry the great burdens of this nation, they should not have to worry that their sacrifices will result in economic harm to their families. Mortgage servicers and landlords must ensure that they are in full compliance with federal laws intended to protect servicemembers and their families during military service.”24 The joint statement reminds mortgage professionals of their duties to comply with the requirements of the SCRA. The HUD enforces the FHA, which protects disabled veterans (among others) from housing discriminatory practices related to their disabilities. The HUD administratively investigates complaints of housing discrimination and may work with the DOJ to judicially enforce the rights of disabled veterans to fair rental and lending opportunities. PRACTICE TIPS FOR ASSISTING VETERANS WITH HOUSING DEFENSES Always Do an SCRA Analysis If the case involves a financial claim, find out if the veteran qualifies for protection under the SCRA for their own active-duty military service or as a dependent of a service member. Military service is often multigenerational. “Veterans are more than twice as likely as members of the general public to say they have a son or daughter
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