Via a news release through Globe Newswire, the Lowey Dannenberg law firm has announced an ‘investigation’ into antitrust activities by nine manufactured home community owner/operators which are routinely members of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and/or MHI linked state association(s). The firms involved in the Lowey Dannenberg probe are Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (ELS), Hometown America Management LLC, Lakeshore Communities, Inc., Sun Communities, Inc. (SUI), RHP Properties, Inc., YES! Communities, Inc., Inspire Communities, LLC, Kingsley Management Corp., and Cal-Am Properties, Inc. In Part I of this report and expert analysis is the bulk of the Lowey Dannenberg press release. Part II is additional information with more Masthead editorial analysis and commentary on MHProNews.
Part I
Lowey Dannenberg Investigates Antitrust Claims on Behalf of Owners of Manufactured Homes
September 25, 2023 15:05 ET| Source: Lowey Dannenberg, P.C.
NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lowey Dannenberg P.C., a preeminent law firm in obtaining redress for consumers and investors, is investigating claims that nine owners of manufactured home communities shared non-public, competitively sensitive information about manufactured home lot rental prices and occupancy throughout the United States, and collectively raised prices on manufactured home lot rentals in violation of the antitrust laws.
The nine manufactured home community owners are:
- Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc.
- Hometown America Management LLC
- Lakeshore Communities, Inc.
- Sun Communities, Inc.
- RHP Properties, Inc.
- YES! Communities, Inc.
- Inspire Communities, LLC
- Kingsley Management, Corp.
- Cal-Am Properties, Inc.
If you own a manufactured home in a community owned by these companies, and paid rent for the lot that you live on between September 2019 and the present, please contact Nicole Veno at nveno@lowey.com or (914) 733-7286.
About Lowey Dannenberg
Lowey Dannenberg is a national firm representing institutional and individual investors, who suffered financial losses resulting from corporate fraud and malfeasance in violation of federal securities and antitrust laws. The firm has significant experience in prosecuting multi-million-dollar lawsuits and has previously recovered billions of dollars on behalf of investors.
Contact
Lowey Dannenberg P.C.
44 South Broadway, Suite 1100
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 733-7286
… ##
Part II – Additional Information with More Masthead Editorial Analysis and Commentary in Brief
So, Lowey Dannenberg launched this “investigation” less than a month after a big class action lawsuit was launched by DiCello Levitt, Hausfeld, and Myron M. Cherry & Associates on behalf of plaintiffs Carla Hajek and Gregory Hammerlund against Defendants’ Datacomp Appraisal Systems, Inc. (“Datacomp”), Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (“ELS”), Hometown America Management, L.L.C. (“Hometown America”), Lakeshore Communities, Inc. (“Lakeshore”), Sun Communities, Inc. (“Sun Communities”), RHP Properties, Inc. (“RHP”), YES! Communities, Inc. (“YES! Communities”), Inspire Communities, L.L.C. (“Inspire Communities”), Kingsley Management, Corp. (“Kingsley”) and Cal-Am Properties, Inc.’s (“Cal-Am”) (together, “Defendants”), alleging violations of federal antitrust laws and common law.
A possible defense against the claims in Hayek vs. Datacomp et al in Case No 23-cv-6715 was advanced by a source with ties to MHI, explored in the report linked below.
Often using the information provided by MHI, and several of the MHI members who are defendants in this case, MHProNews and our MHLivingNews sister site have argued for years that such a suit was likely.
Indeed, last year, MHProNews said that manufactured housing had become a ‘target rich environment’ because of the apparent evidence of antitrust violations by so-called predatory brands.
So, this probe by Lowey Dannenberg P.C., essentially seeking possible claimants, may the next of a wave of claims ahead which could become reminiscent of what occurred with Cavco Industries. Cavco and its former corporate leader, Joseph “Joe” Stegmayer spent millions of dollars before settling those claims.
Samuel Strommen, then with Knudson Law, laid out his evidence-based ‘case’ against several MHI members, as what follows illustrates. But note that insights from other attorneys and experts cited in that report also directly or obliquely shed light on why Strommen and the attorneys probing MHI members appear to be on solid legal ground in the claims. Strommen asserted that the evidence supports naming MHI and several of their key members in a ‘felony’ antitrust case.
These are just some of the reasons why the industry’s white hat brands should establish a bright line distinction between themselves and others in MHVille who have aligned themselves with MHI. Are more probes, by plaintiffs’ attorneys, state, or federal officials ahead? While the future is never entirely clear, there are several good reasons to think that the answer to that question is “yes.” Note that each of the linked reports provides far more detail and related evidence. Would that more plaintiffs come forward, the public officials do their part, and may justice be done. ##
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Stay tuned for more of what is ‘behind the curtains’ as well as what is obvious and in your face reporting that are not found anywhere else in MHVille. It is all here, which may explain why this is the runaway largest and most-read source for authentic manufactured home “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) (See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position, and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
Related References:
The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.
