Concord Management $1.85 Million Security Deposit Settlement, Former Florida Tenants Get Automatic Payments and Debt Relief

Concord Management Ltd., Watervue Partners, LLC and River Ridge Apartments, Ltd. have agreed to pay $1.85 million to settle class action lawsuits alleging they failed to send Florida tenants security deposit notices in the form the law requires. The deal also requires the companies to stop collecting about $15.99 million in claimed unpaid lease balances and to seek removal of negative credit reporting tied to covered tenants.

No claim form is required. Eligible tenants are paid automatically. The deadline to opt out or object is November 20, 2026, and the final approval hearing is December 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Current status (as of October 15, 2026): The court has preliminarily approved the settlement. Final approval is pending. Concord denies wrongdoing, and the court has not found that any law was violated.

Concord Management Security Deposit Settlement Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Settlement fund	$1,850,000
Additional debt relief	About $15,985,927 in claimed unpaid lease balances
Defendants	Concord Management Ltd., Watervue Partners, LLC and River Ridge Apartments, Ltd.
Class representatives	Jay Alan Durrance and Marlene Barban
Case names	Durrance v. Concord Management Ltd., et al. (Seminole County); Barban v. Concord Management Ltd. (Orange County)
Case numbers	2023-CA-003292 (Seminole); 2022-CA-009410-O (Orange)
Court	Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Seminole County, Florida (Judge Donna M. Goerner)
Class period	April 3, 2021 to April 3, 2025
Estimated class size	About 16,924 tenant accounts
Claim form	None
Cash payment	Pro rata share of the net fund, only for members whose deposit was not fully returned
Opt-out and objection deadline	November 20, 2026 (must be received)
Final approval hearing	December 3, 2026, 9:00 a.m.
Settlement administrator	Durrance/Barban Class Action Settlement Administrator
Official website	concordsecuritydepositsettlement.com

Who Qualifies for the Concord Management Security Deposit Settlement?

The class covers people who were residential tenants of Concord Management, Watervue Partners or River Ridge Apartments between April 3, 2021 and April 3, 2025 and who meet at least one of these conditions:

• Concord claimed some or all of their security deposit after sending a deposit notice substantially similar to the one challenged in the case.
• Concord withheld or managed all or part of their security deposit.
• Concord charged them a liquidated damages lease termination fee, including fees under Florida Statutes § 83.595(4) or § 83.575.

You do not have to be a current tenant. If Concord’s records show you fit, you should have received a mailed notice with a Notice ID and PIN. If you think you qualify but got no notice, contact the administrator.

Who Gets a Check and Who Gets Only Non-Cash Benefits?

This is the part most tenants ask about, and it turns on one question: was any part of your security deposit withheld?

Your situation	Cash payment?	Other benefits?
Some or all of your deposit was not returned	Yes. You get a pro rata share of the net fund, based on how much of your deposit was withheld compared with the total withheld from the class.	Yes
Your entire deposit was returned	No check.	Yes, the debt discharge, credit reporting and notice changes described below
You opt out	No	No, but you keep your right to sue

The $1.85 million is therefore not split equally among all 16,924 accounts. Dividing it by that number would not give you a real estimate.

What Did Concord Management Allegedly Do Wrong?

Jay Alan Durrance sued in Seminole County and Marlene Barban sued in Orange County. They alleged that Concord and the other defendants did not send security deposit notices that met Florida’s requirements. The lawsuits also alleged violations of the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act.

In plain terms, when a landlord wants to keep part of a tenant’s deposit, Florida law requires a notice with specific information. The plaintiffs say Concord’s form did not comply. Concord denies this and says it settled to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation.

Which Florida and Federal Laws Apply to the Concord Management Settlement?

• Florida security deposit law, Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3). A landlord who wants to claim part of a deposit must send written notice by certified mail, within 30 days after the tenant vacates, stating the intent to impose a claim and the reason, using the notice language the statute prescribes. The tenant then has 15 days to object in writing. A landlord who misses the 30-day window generally forfeits the right to impose a claim on the deposit, and the prevailing party in a deposit dispute may recover costs and reasonable attorney fees. The lawsuits allege Concord’s notice did not include the information this section requires.
• Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Fla. Stat. Chapter 83, Part II. The statute that sets landlord and tenant duties for residential leases.
• Fla. Stat. § 83.595 and § 83.575. These govern early lease termination. Section 83.595(4) allows a landlord to elect liquidated damages when a tenant ends a lease early, and § 83.575 addresses lease termination fees. The class includes tenants charged these fees.
• Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act, Fla. Stat. § 559.55 et seq. Prohibits certain abusive or deceptive debt collection practices, including attempting to collect a debt the collector knows is not legitimate (§ 559.72). Section 559.77 provides civil remedies, including limits on statutory damages in class actions. The lawsuits allege violations of this Act.
• Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. Governs the accuracy of information that furnishers report to credit bureaus. It is background for the settlement’s credit reporting terms and is not a claim listed in the case.
• Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.220. The rule that governs class actions in Florida courts, including class certification and court approval of settlements. Here the court conditionally certified the class for settlement purposes only.

These laws are context, not findings. The court has not decided whether Concord violated any of them.

What Does the Concord Management Settlement Provide?

Cash fund. Concord will fund $1,850,000. Court-approved attorneys’ fees, litigation costs, administration expenses and incentive awards come out first.

Debt discharge. The agreement says the defendants claim former tenants owe about $15,985,927 in total unpaid lease balances, and the defendants waive the right to collect further covered balances under the covered leases. That figure is the defendants’ estimate and not a court finding that every balance was valid.

Credit reporting. The defendants must stop reporting negative tradelines on class members and must ask credit reporting agencies to delete negative tradelines previously reported. This covers the entries the settlement addresses. It does not mean every negative item on someone’s credit report will disappear.

New deposit notices. Concord is permanently barred from using any deposit notice that lacks the information Fla. Stat. § 83.49 requires.

What Will Be Deducted From the $1.85 Million Fund?

Proposed deduction	Amount
Attorneys’ fees	Up to $1,000,000
Litigation costs	Up to $15,000
Class representative incentive awards	$15,000 total ($7,500 each)
Settlement administration	About $63,639.18
Gross settlement fund	$1,850,000

If the court approved every maximum, about $756,360.82 would remain for the net fund. That is simple subtraction from the notice figures, not an amount the notice states. The court can approve less, and the final number depends on what is actually approved. Class members never pay the lawyers directly.

How to Estimate Your Concord Management Settlement Check

1. Open the estimated award page.
2. Find the Notice ID and PIN on the first page of your settlement notice.
3. Enter them to see your estimated allocation.

The site warns that estimates are approximate and can change with court approval, the net fund and the number of class members participating.

Do Concord Management Tenants Need to File a Claim Form?

No. If part of your deposit was withheld and you stay in the class, a check will be mailed using the administrator’s records. Checks are due within 45 days after the final judgment, unless there is an appeal.

No claim form does not mean no action is ever needed. Make sure the administrator has your current address, and meet the deadlines if you want to opt out or object.

How to Update Your Address

Use the address-update page with your Notice ID and PIN. You can also email [email protected] with “Change of Address” in the subject line, or mail your full name, previous address, new address and Notice ID to: Durrance/Barban Class Action Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 23489, Jacksonville, FL 32241.

What If I Do Nothing?

You stay in the class. If your deposit was withheld, you get your pro rata check automatically, and you get the other benefits if the settlement becomes final. You also give up the right to sue Concord over the released claims.

What You Give Up by Staying in the Class

If the court grants final approval, class members release Concord from claims that were raised, or could have been raised, in the case, including claims about the lease, the deposit notice and how deposits and charges were handled. The release carves out claims for bodily injury, claims under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act claims. If you have a separate dispute with Concord, talk to a lawyer before November 20.

Your Options and Deadlines

Option	What happens	Deadline
Do nothing	You stay in the class and get what you are owed; you release the covered claims	None
Opt out	You keep your right to sue, but get no settlement benefits	Received by November 20, 2026
Object	You tell the court what you dislike while staying in the class	Received by November 20, 2026
Speak at the hearing	Only if you filed a timely written objection	December 3, 2026, 9:00 a.m.

How to Opt Out of the Concord Management Settlement

Mail a signed letter stating you want to be excluded from Durrance v. Concord Management Ltd., Case No. 2023-CA-003292. Include your full name, current mailing address and phone number. Send it to the administrator at P.O. Box 23489, Jacksonville, FL 32241. It must be received by November 20, 2026, so mailing it that day may not be enough. You cannot opt out by phone or email. If you opt out, you get no benefits and cannot object.

How to Object to the Concord Management Settlement

Your written objection must include your full name, current address, phone number, the reasons you object, any supporting documents and whether you or a lawyer plan to appear at the hearing. It must be received by November 20, 2026, with copies sent to the court, the administrator, class counsel and defense counsel at the addresses in the notice. If a lawyer will appear for you, the lawyer must file a notice of appearance with the Seminole County clerk by November 13, 2026.

You do not have to attend the hearing for a timely objection to be considered. An objection does not guarantee the court will change the deal.

When Will Concord Management Settlement Payments Go Out?

Not before the court approves the settlement. The final approval hearing is December 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Donna M. Goerner at the Seminole County Courthouse, 301 N. Park Avenue, Sanford, FL 32771. If no one appeals, checks are due within 45 days after the final judgment. An appeal would delay that.

• Checks expire. Checks must be cashed within 90 days of issue. Money from uncashed checks goes to Florida Legal Services, Inc., not to other class members.
• The deal can fall apart. If more than 5% of class members opt out, the parties have 21 days to decide whether to withdraw. If the court does not approve the settlement, or a party withdraws, the cases go back to where they were.

Concord Management Settlement Timeline

Date	Event
April 3, 2021 – April 3, 2025	Class period
2022	Barban v. Concord Management Ltd. filed in Orange County
2023	Durrance v. Concord Management Ltd. filed in Seminole County
August 7, 2026	Settlement agreement
September 26, 2026	Preliminary approval order
November 13, 2026	Deadline for a lawyer to file a notice of appearance for an objector
November 20, 2026	Deadline to opt out or object (must be received)
December 3, 2026, 9:00 a.m.	Final approval hearing
Within 45 days of final judgment	Checks due, absent an appeal

Who Are the Lawyers for the Concord Management Class?

The court appointed Robert W. Murphy, David H. Abrams, Kaelyn Diamond and Joseph M. Sternberg as class counsel. You do not pay them. Their fees come from the settlement fund if the court approves.

Related Reading on AllAboutLawyer

For another Florida landlord-tenant settlement involving security deposits, read SELA Realty Security Deposit Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Coleman v. SELA Realty Investments LLC, No. 2025-CA-002010. It is a separate case with a different landlord, class definition and payout process. For a walkthrough of how class settlements are approved and paid, see Class Action Lawyer, Role, Cost, Settlements, and How Class Action Lawsuits Work.

Concord Management Security Deposit Settlement FAQ

Is the Concord Management $1.85 million settlement approved?

It has preliminary approval. Final approval is pending, with the hearing on December 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Do I need to file a claim?

No. If part of your deposit was withheld and you stay in the class, a check will be mailed automatically after final approval.

How much will I get?

It depends on how much of your deposit was withheld compared with the total withheld across the class, after deductions from the fund. Use the estimated award page with your Notice ID and PIN for an approximate figure.

What if Concord returned my full deposit?

You will not get a check. You may still get the debt discharge, credit reporting and notice benefits if the settlement becomes final.

What does the debt relief cover?

Concord waives further collection of covered unpaid lease balances. The roughly $15.99 million figure is the defendants’ own estimate.

What is the opt-out deadline?

Your letter must be received by November 20, 2026. You cannot opt out by phone or email.

Can I still sue Concord over my deposit?

Only if you opt out by the deadline. If you stay in, you release the covered claims.

Does the settlement mean Concord broke Florida law?

No. Concord denies wrongdoing, and the settlement is not a finding that any law was violated.

When will checks arrive?

Within 45 days after the final judgment if there is no appeal. No calendar date is set.

I moved. What should I do?

Update your address on the settlement website, or contact the administrator by email or mail.

Official Concord Management Settlement Documents and Contact Information

• Official settlement website
• Court-authorized settlement notice
• Settlement agreement
• Frequently asked questions
• Key dates
• Estimated award eligibility
• Address-update page
• Important court documents

Settlement administrator: Durrance/Barban Class Action Settlement Administrator, [email protected]

Mailing address: P.O. Box 23489, Jacksonville, FL 32241

Sources Used in This Article

• Official settlement website (Case Home, Key Dates, FAQ, Estimated Award, Update Address and Important Court Documents pages), concordsecuritydepositsettlement.com
• Long Form Class Notice, Durrance v. Concord Management Ltd., No. 2023-CA-003292 (Fla. 18th Cir. Ct.)
• Class Action Settlement Agreement, Durrance v. Concord Management Ltd. and Barban v. Concord Management Ltd., No. 2022-CA-009410-O
• Fla. Stat. § 83.49; Fla. Stat. §§ 83.575, 83.595, 559.55 et seq.; 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.; Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.220

Disclaimer: This article is general legal information, not legal advice. I am not a practicing attorney. The settlement is subject to final approval, and terms and deadlines may change through later court orders.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement website (concordsecuritydepositsettlement.com), the Long Form Class Notice and the Class Action Settlement Agreement, as of October 15, 2026. Last Updated: October 15, 2026.