No, the Baltimore eviction settlement — the proposed $11 million federal deal over belongings lost at eviction — does not cover municipal fee charges. It pays for lost personal property and related distress, not water, sewer, tax, or other city bills.
The Baltimore Chronicle, reporting Maryland Daily Record terms, says the city seeks to pay $11 million to settle the federal case Baltimore eviction settlement report. The claims say tenants' belongings were treated as abandoned when the sheriff executed an eviction. The deal still needs approval by the Board of Estimates and a federal judge.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Zuckerman — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- https://www.zuckerman.com/news/press-release/zuckerman-spaeder-delivers-186000-award-baltimore-city-residents-constitutional-tenants-rights-fight/ — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What the settlement covers
- Why municipal fees are different
- Who qualifies for property payments
- What to do about city bills now
What the settlement covers
City Housing Code §8A-4 is the rule at issue. It deemed all property in or about the premises abandoned when restitution was executed. The Zuckerman Spaeder press release lists packed clothes, electronics, furniture, jewelry, and ashes as examples of covered property Zuckerman Spaeder award announcement.
The same release notes U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman ruled in September 2022 that the rule violated due process. Tenants had inadequate notice and no post-eviction chance to retrieve unintentionally abandoned possessions.
Why municipal fees are different
Municipal fee charges are debts owed to the city or tied to an account. Common examples are unpaid water, sewer, tax, late, court, or collection charges.
Maryland's separate $3.25 million Westminster Management settlement refunded only landlord charges, according to the Maryland Attorney General release Westminster settlement release. Those refunds covered excessive application fees, agent and writ fees, ejectment court costs, retained credit balances, and unpaid deposit interest. That deal did not cover municipal water, sewer, or tax debts.
Who qualifies for property payments
The Law Offices of Joseph S. Mack case page describes the lead Todman award as $186,000 — $36,000 for lost property plus $150,000 for emotional distress Mack case summary.
That breakdown shows payment is for belongings and distress, not unpaid bills or fees. The same page limits eligibility to tenants who lost belongings without abandonment warning. Check these limits:.
- tenant holding over, wrongful detainer, or breach-of-lease eviction
- loss of belongings without abandonment warning
- eviction on or after March 6, 2020
What to do about city bills now
Keep fee bills separate from eviction-loss records. The property settlement will not pay a water balance, sewer lien, tax debt, or late charge.
Keep an inventory of lost items with photos, receipts, and replacement prices when available. Keep city bills, payment plans, and shutoff or lien notices in a separate file for normal billing disputes. Keep fee notices separate from any eviction-loss records and address them through the city's normal billing process.