Anil Dwivedi Hillsdale Apartments Rent Settlement, $102,750 Proposed Payout, October 9 Court Decision and What Eureka Tenants Should Know

Eureka landlord Anil Dwivedi has agreed to pay $102,750 into a settlement fund to resolve a putative class action over rent increases at the Hillsdale Apartments in Eureka, California. A Humboldt County Superior Court judge is expected to decide on preliminary approval on October 9, 2026.

This is a proposed settlement. It does not take effect unless Judge Timothy Canning approves it, and there is no claim form to file at this stage. Eligible tenants are expected to be paid automatically unless they opt out. Some headlines round the total to $100,000. The reported figure is $102,750.

Dwivedi has not admitted liability, and the agreement describes the claims as “highly disputed.”

Quick Facts: Dwivedi Hillsdale Apartments Rent Settlement

Detail	Information
Defendants	Anil Dwivedi and Dwivedi Tower, LLC
Property	Hillsdale Apartments, 1140 E Street, Eureka, California
Court	Humboldt County Superior Court
Judge	Timothy Canning
Lawsuit filed	February 21, 2025 (Swall and Vachon v. Dwivedi Tower, LLC, and Anil Dwivedi)
Law involved	California Tenant Protection Act
Total settlement fund	$102,750
Attorneys’ costs	Up to $92,000 from the fund
Named plaintiffs	Additional $1,000 each
Per-tenant awards (preliminary)	$141.35 to $675.91
Eligible tenants	Tenants who received rent increases between January 24, 2025 and July 1, 2026 (Dwivedi says 29 tenants)
Injunction	18 months, with a court monitor
Settlement signed	July 30, 2026
Preliminary approval decision	October 9, 2026
Claim form	None reported. Payments are automatic for eligible tenants who do not opt out
Admission of liability	None

What Is the Hillsdale Apartments Rent Increase Lawsuit Against Anil Dwivedi About?

Tenants at the Hillsdale Apartments sued after Dwivedi bought the building and notified tenants of rent increases in January 2025. The lawsuit alleges the increases exceeded the 8.8% legal limit under the California Tenant Protection Act. According to the complaint as reported, one tenant’s rent went up by 82.5%.

The notice told tenants that if they did not agree to the increase, they could choose to move out by February 28, 2025. Tenants told the Lost Coast Outpost that felt like an ultimatum.

The suit was filed in Humboldt County Superior Court by tenants Don Swall and Vanessa Vachon through the Eureka firm Janssen Malloy LLP. A judge granted a temporary restraining order in February 2025 barring the increases while the case proceeded.

Dwivedi says he rescinded the announcement in writing on February 11, 2025, and that no tenant paid the increased rent under that January notice. Those are his statements, and the settlement treats the claims as disputed.

What Are the Terms of the Anil Dwivedi Rent Settlement?

According to the Lost Coast Outpost’s reporting on the settlement agreement and court filings, the proposed terms include:

• $102,750 total fund. Up to $92,000 can go toward attorneys’ costs.
• Automatic payments to eligible tenants. Tenants who do not opt out and are not in a HUD-subsidized unit would be paid proportionally under an agreed formula that measures rent paid above the maximum lawful amount.
• Preliminary award range of $141.35 to $675.91, based on a document in the settlement agreement.
• $1,000 extra for each named plaintiff.
• An 18-month injunction. Dwivedi would be barred by court order from raising rents above legal limits and would have to submit documentation to a court monitor.
• A retraction of the March 2026 increase. Plaintiffs allege Dwivedi tried to raise rents again in March 2026 in violation of a preliminary injunction and the Tenant Protection Act, and that he collected those rents. Dwivedi denies collecting them. The settlement requires him to retract that increase and repay any rent above the maximum.

The Lost Coast Outpost also reported that plaintiffs’ attorney Patrik Griego previously said the March 2026 increase caused about $8,000 in additional attorney fees, separate from the settlement payment.

Who Is Eligible for the Hillsdale Apartments Settlement in Eureka?

Eligibility, as reported, covers tenants of the Hillsdale Apartments who received rent increase notices from January 24, 2025 through July 1, 2026. Dwivedi said in an email to the Outpost that this includes 29 tenants.

Tenants in HUD-subsidized units are not reported as receiving the proportional payments. The final class definition and payment rules will be set out in the court-approved notice, so read that notice rather than relying on news summaries.

The class has not been certified. The case is a putative class action until the court rules on the settlement class.

How Do Hillsdale Apartments Tenants Get Paid in the Dwivedi Settlement?

No claim form has been reported. Under the proposed terms, eligible tenants would automatically receive a payment from the fund. The settlement is not active yet, so here is what to do now:

1. Keep your records. Save your lease, rent increase notices, rent receipts and any written communication with Dwivedi Tower, LLC.
2. Wait for the official notice. If the court grants preliminary approval on October 9, 2026, class members are expected to receive a notice explaining the terms, how to opt out or object and the final approval hearing date.
3. Make sure your address is current. Payments and notices depend on the contact information on file.
4. Ask class counsel if you have questions. Janssen Malloy LLP represents the tenants.

Can Hillsdale Apartments Tenants Opt Out of or Object to the Dwivedi Settlement?

Yes. The Lost Coast Outpost reported that tenants who do not opt out would receive payments. Attorney Patrik Griego also told the Outpost in July 2026 that once a deal is reached it must be approved by the court and presented to each class member, who can choose to opt in or out.

The opt-out and objection deadlines have not been published. They will appear in the court-approved notice after preliminary approval. Opting out generally means you keep the right to pursue your own claim but you would not receive a payment from this settlement.

What Happens at the October 9, 2026 Hearing in the Dwivedi Rent Lawsuit?

Judge Timothy Canning indicated he would decide on the motion for preliminary approval on October 9, 2026. At a Monday hearing, attorneys for both sides said one document had a clerical error to fix, and plaintiffs’ attorney Megan Yarnall estimated it would take about a week to collect two remaining plaintiff signatures for an updated addendum.

If the judge approves, notice goes to class members, followed by a final approval process. The settlement says it can be terminated if Judge Canning does not approve it.

Key Dates in the Anil Dwivedi Hillsdale Apartments Lawsuit

Date	Event
January 24, 2025	Start of the rent increase period covered by the settlement
February 11, 2025	Date Dwivedi says he rescinded the January increase announcement in writing
February 21, 2025	Class action lawsuit filed in Humboldt County Superior Court
February 2026	Parties meet in mediation
March 2026	Plaintiffs allege a further rent increase in violation of the preliminary injunction; Dwivedi denies collecting it
July 1, 2026	End of the rent increase period covered by the settlement
July 30, 2026	Settlement agreement signed
October 9, 2026	Expected decision on preliminary approval
After preliminary approval	Notice to class members; opt-out and objection deadlines; final approval process

Frequently Asked Questions About the Anil Dwivedi Hillsdale Apartments Settlement

How much is the Anil Dwivedi rent settlement?

The reported total is $102,750, with up to $92,000 available for attorneys’ costs. Headlines that say $100,000 are rounding.

Is there a claim form for the Hillsdale Apartments settlement?

None has been reported. Eligible tenants would automatically receive payments under the agreed formula unless they opt out.

Has the court approved the Dwivedi settlement?

Not yet. Judge Timothy Canning is expected to decide on preliminary approval on October 9, 2026.

How much would Hillsdale Apartments tenants receive?

Preliminary calculations in the settlement agreement range from $141.35 to $675.91 per eligible tenant. Final amounts depend on the court’s approval and the payment formula.

Did Anil Dwivedi admit to breaking the California Tenant Protection Act?

No. Dwivedi says he is not admitting liability and that he settled to end costly litigation. The agreement describes the claims as highly disputed.

Are HUD-subsidized tenants at the Hillsdale Apartments included in the payments?

The Lost Coast Outpost reported that the proportional payments go to eligible tenants who do not opt out and are not in a HUD-subsidized unit. Check the court-approved notice for the final rules.

What is the injunction in the Dwivedi settlement?

An 18-month court order that bars Dwivedi from raising rents above legal limits and requires him to submit documentation to a court monitor.

Is the Hillsdale Apartments lawsuit a certified class action?

No. The class has not been certified, so it is a putative class action. The settlement still needs court approval.

Does the settlement cover the March 2026 rent increase at the Hillsdale Apartments?

Yes. It requires Dwivedi to retract that increase and repay any rent above the maximum. Dwivedi denies collecting the increased rents.

Bottom Line on the Anil Dwivedi Hillsdale Apartments Settlement

Eureka landlord Anil Dwivedi has proposed a $102,750 settlement of a putative class action over Hillsdale Apartments rent increases, along with an 18-month injunction and court monitoring. It is not final. Judge Timothy Canning is expected to rule on preliminary approval on October 9, 2026, and there is no claim form or opt-out deadline yet. Eligible tenants should keep their records and watch for the court-approved notice.

Important: This article is general information, not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Read the court-approved notice and talk to a qualified attorney about your situation.

For a different kind of consumer settlement that does have a claim form, see the Balance of Nature $9.95M False Advertisement Class Action Settlement: Who Qualifies, How to File by March 11, 2026.

Sources

1. Anil Dwivedi Would Pay $100,000 and Be Barred From Illegally Jacking Up Rents in a Proposed Settlement Agreement That Awaits Approval by Judge (Lost Coast Outpost, September 29, 2026)
2. Tenants of Hillsdale Apartments File Class Action Lawsuit to Stop Landlord’s ‘Unlawful Rent Increases’ (Lost Coast Outpost, February 22, 2025)
3. Judge Grants Restraining Order Against Hillsdale Apartments Owner, Preventing Illegal Rent Increases (Lost Coast Outpost, February 24, 2025)
4. Eureka Landlord Anil Dwivedi, Still Embroiled in Class Action Lawsuit Over Illegal Rent Hikes, Launches Campaign for Mayor (Lost Coast Outpost, July 24, 2026)

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts checked against the Lost Coast Outpost’s reporting on the court filings, as of September 30, 2026. The settlement agreement and court docket were not reviewed directly. Last Updated: September 30, 2026.