Plaintiffs in California have launched a significant legal battle against a prominent property management company, alleging violations of state consumer protection laws. On January 17, 2025, Alicia Brunson, Matthew Roy, Anna Raiano-Mannila, Bryceson Raiano-Mannila, and Jessica Madrigal filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California for Ventura County against Ventura Investment Co., accusing them of failing to comply with the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA) and other tenant screening regulations.
The plaintiffs argue that Ventura Investment Co., which manages several apartment complexes including Sand & Sea Apartments in Oxnard and Ivy at Pickwick Park Apartments in Camarillo, violated their rights under the ICRAA by not providing necessary disclosures and failing to offer copies of investigative consumer reports. According to the complaint, these reports are crucial as they contain sensitive information about tenants' character and personal lives. The plaintiffs claim that the company did not inform them about these reports or provide an option to receive copies, as mandated by law.
The complaint details how Ventura Investment Co. allegedly used application fees paid by prospective tenants to procure these reports without proper consent or disclosure. "Defendants did not provide a means by which the Plaintiffs could indicate that he or she wished to receive a copy of any report prepared," states the lawsuit. Furthermore, it accuses the company of deliberate and planned violations aimed at maintaining control over tenant information without transparency.
In response to these alleged violations, the plaintiffs are seeking various forms of relief from the court. They demand actual damages for emotional distress and invasion of privacy, statutory damages amounting to $10,000 per report obtained without compliance, punitive damages for willful misconduct, and attorney fees. Additionally, they seek declaratory relief affirming their rights under ICRAA and an injunction preventing further violations by Ventura Investment Co.
Represented by Glenn A. Murphy from Litigation Advocacy Group, the plaintiffs also aim to act as private attorneys general to protect other tenants' rights across California from similar practices. The case is presided over by judges in Ventura County's Superior Court under Case No. 20275CUBTO3F295.