Resolution Proposed In MDC Class Action Lawsuit

From the Town of Glastonbury:

August 3, 2020

The following information is meant to provide residents with an update regarding this class action lawsuit.

Please note - this is NOT a Town of Glastonbury matter. The Town and Water Pollution Control Authority do NOT have any further information on this suit therefore staff are not able to assist with inquiries on this matter. Please contact Peatzhold or MDC directly if you have any questions or require further information.

A settlement has been proposed in a class action lawsuit pending in the Connecticut Superior Court for the Judicial District of Hartford. The lawsuit alleges that the Metropolitan District Commission (“MDC”) charged customers in 4 towns (East Granby, Farmington, Glastonbury, and South Windsor) an unlawful surcharge (the “Surcharge”) from 3/6/12 to 10/1/14. The case is known as Paetzold v. MDC, Dkt. No. X07-HHD-CV-18-6090558-S. A hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2020, to consider whether to approve the Settlement and whether to award up to $1,920,000 (25% of the total Settlement value) in Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses and/or $5,000 to each of the Class Representatives as a Service Award.

A postcard was sent by MDC to property owners affected by this suit. Click here to view the postcard. For resident convenience, the Town is passing along a summarized excerpt of the postcard contents:

“Subject to certain exclusions, the class action affects: All property owners who were charged the Surcharge by the Metropolitan District Commission during the period from March 6, 2012 through October 1, 2014. If you are receiving this notice, you are a Class Member according. If you are included in this Class – you would have received a postcard in the mail from MDC. Click here to view an electronic copy of this postcard.

If you did not receive a postcard, but you believe that your property (or former property) is eligible for inclusion, please contact Peatzhold or MDC. Please do NOT contact Town staff as we have no involvement in this class action lawsuit.”

As noted above, this is NOT a Town matter and therefore the Town of Glastonbury and Water Pollution Control Authority do NOT have specific details regarding this suit. If you have any questions, please contact Peatzhold or MDC directly through the contact information provided on the postcard or their respective websites.

This press release was produced by the Town of Glastonbury. The views expressed are the author's own.