Management Company Settles After Allegedly Violating SCRA

The ""Department of Justice"":http://www.justice.gov/ reached a settlement today with Empirian Property Management Inc. regarding allegations that the management company refused to terminate leases for military members after the members received permanent change of station orders, the Justice Department announced today.

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The military members involved were on active duty in the Air Force and were assigned to Offutt Air Force Base in Sarpy County, Nebraska. By not allowing the service members to end their leases early after receiving military orders to relocate, the management company did not follow requirements stated in the

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Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), which provides protection for those entering, called, or deployed to active military duty.

Through the settlement, Emperian must pay $12,500 in damages to four identified service members, and up to $20,000 to compensate additional service members whose rights were violated under the Act. The settlement terms must receive approval from a federal court in Nebraska.

""This settlement sends a strong message that the rights of our service personnel will be protected,"" said U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska Deborah R. Gilg in a ""release"":http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/March/12-crt-268.html. ""No service man or woman engaged in protecting all of us from harm should suffer financial damage from landlords who seek to thwart the protection our laws afford our service personnel.""

Empirian manages over 30 apartment complexes nationwide.

The SCRA was signed by former President George Bush in 2003 and allows service members to perform and concentrate on their military duties without having to worry about consequences from not meeting certain civil obligation such as mortgage payments and taxes. For example, in certain circumstances, the Act prevents those who are serving from losing their home to foreclosure due to non-payment while on active duty.