Notice to Past Residents: Lawsuit Against Oakland’s Sutter Hotel

 
Notice to Class: If you lived at the Sutter Hotel located at 584 14th Street Oakland, California for at least 30 consecutive days during the period of August 12, 2010, until November 30, 2011, this notice may affect your rights.
Residents of the Sutter Hotel have sued the owner/managers claiming that the Sutter has had an illegal practice of requiring residents who lived at the Sutter for more than 30 consecutive days to move, or  check out and register in the same or a different room before the expiration of 30 days.
The lawsuit is called Veasey v. Oakland Sutter Hotel, L.P. Alameda County Superior Court Case No. RG 11-590352. The Court decided this lawsuit should be a “Class Action” or “class” or group of people that may include past residents of the Sutter. This notice summarizes their rights and options in this case.
More information is in a detailed notice available at the website below. If you’re included, you have to decide whether to stay in the Class and be bound by whatever results, or ask to be excluded. There is no money available now, but there may be money or other benefits available through settlement or trial. There are no guarantees that money or other benefits will be available.
[typography font=”Crimson Text” size=”18″ size_format=”px”] Are You Affected?[/typography]
If you lived at the Sutter Hotel for 30 or more consecutive days at any time during the period of August 12, 2010 until November 30, 2011, and moved rooms before 30 days expired, you may be part of the class. If you are not sure if you are included, you can call or write the lawyers at the phone number or address below.
[typography font=”Crimson Text” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]What Is This Case About?[/typography]
The lawsuit is about whether the owners of the Sutter Hotel illegally required residents to move from room to room every 28 days or leave the Hotel, in violation of their rights. Plaintiffs are suing to make sure the practice is stopped, and to sue for money damages. The Sutter Hotel owners/managers deny that they did anything wrong. The Court has not yet made any decision as to whether the Class or the Sutter Hotel is right.
[typography font=”Crimson Text” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]Who Represents You? [/typography]
The Court has decided that the law firms of Greenstein and McDonald, 300 Montgomery Street, Suite 621, San Francisco, CA, 94104, (415) 773-1240 and Law Office of Jay B. Koslofsky, P.O. Box 9236, Berkeley, CA, 94709, (510) 280-5627, are qualified to represent you and class members.  Together the law firms are called “class counsel.”  They are experienced in handling similar cases.  The Court has accepted “Class Representatives whose claims are typical of the Class.” You may hire your own lawyer. If you want your own lawyer, you will have to pay for that lawyer, if you want someone other than Class Counsel.
[typography font=”Crimson Text” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]What Are Your Options?[/typography]
You don’t have to do anything now if you want to keep the possibility of getting money or benefits from this lawsuit.  By doing nothing you are staying in the class.  If you stay in the case, and the Plaintiffs obtain money or benefits either as a result of settlement or trial, you will be notified about how to apply for a share (or you may object to the settlement).  If you do nothing, you will be legally bound by any orders or judgments the Court enters in this case. If you exclude yourself from the Class, you won’t get any money or benefits from the lawsuit even if the Plaintiffs receive them by settlement or trial.
If you exclude yourself, you can file your own separate lawsuit, but will have to hire and pay for your own lawyers, and you will have to prove your claims. To ask to be excluded, you must send an “Exclusion Request” in the form of a letter sent by mail stating that you want to be excluded from the Veasey v Oakland Sutter Hotel L.P. class. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number, and sign the letter. The letter should be sent to:  Kenneth Greenstein, Greenstein and McDonald, 300 Montgomery Street, Suite 621, San Francisco, CA,  94104.  You must mail your Exclusion Request postmarked by December 30, 2012.
[typography font=”Crimson Text” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]How Can I Get More Information?[/typography]
Visit the website www.sutterhotelclassaction.com, where you will find the Court’s Order Certifying the Class, the Complaint that the Plaintiffs submitted,  and the Defendants Answer to Complaint. You may also speak to one of the lawyers by calling Kenneth Greenstein (415) 773-1240 or Jay B. Koslofsky (510) 280-5627.  You may also write to Greenstein and McDonald at 300 Montgomery at Suite 621, San Francisco, CA, 94104.
[typography font=”Crimson Text” size=”18″ size_format=”px”]Who’s Affected?[/typography]
Sutter Hotel residents who resided at the Hotel for 30 or more consecutive days who moved,  or checked-out of a room at the Hotel and registered in the same or a different room before the expiration of 30 days at any time during the period of August 12, 2010, until November 30, 2011.  If you are a class member, your deadline to opt-out is December 30, 2012.