$9 Million Miami Gardens Water Bill Surcharge Settlement

If you were a customer of the City of North Miami Beach's water utility located within the City of Miami Gardens and were billed a 25% surcharge from May 22, 2017, to February 6, 2021, you may be eligible to claim a refund from a class action settlement.

The City of North Miami Beach has agreed to pay $9,000,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for allegedly imposing an improper surcharge on water bills.

The lawsuit was brought by the City of Miami Gardens on behalf of its residents and businesses, claiming that the City of North Miami Beach improperly included a 25% surcharge on water bills. This surcharge was allegedly imposed in violation of section 180.191 of the Florida Statutes, which governs how municipalities can charge for utilities outside their boundaries.

Who is eligible for compensation?

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You were a customer of the City of North Miami Beach's water utility
• You were located within the City of Miami Gardens
• You were billed for water services that included a 25% surcharge
• The billing occurred between May 22, 2017, and February 6, 2021

How much can class members get?

The settlement provides a fund of $9 million, which represents approximately 92% of the total surcharges imposed during the class period.

Class members may receive a refund of the 25% surcharge they paid, less litigation and administration costs, and attorneys’ fees not exceeding 30%.

How to file a claim

To claim your award, you must submit a claim form by January 12, 2026. You can file a claim online or download the PDF claim form and mail it to the Claims Administrator.

Mail your completed form to:

Miami Gardens v N Miami Beach Claims Administrator

c/o Settlement Services, Inc.

PO Box 2715

Portland, OR 97208-2715

Claim instructions

1. Obtain your Unique ID and PIN from the claim form you received
2. Complete the claim form with your personal and billing information
3. Submit the form online or mail it to the Claims Administrator by the deadline

Payment methods

Class members can expect to receive their payments via check mailed to their address on file.

$9 Million Settlement fund

The settlement fund of $9,000,000 will cover:

• Refunds to class members for the 25% surcharge
• Attorneys’ fees, not to exceed 30% of the settlement amount ($2,700,000)
• Costs of litigation and claims administration

Important dates

• Final Approval Hearing: December 12, 2024
• Deadline to File a Claim: January 12, 2026

When is the Miami Gardens Water Surcharge Settlement payout date?

After the final approval hearing on December 12, 2024, and if no appeals are filed, the settlement will be finalized, and payments will be distributed to eligible class members.

Why was there a class action settlement?

The lawsuit alleged that the City of North Miami Beach improperly imposed a 25% surcharge on water bills for customers in Miami Gardens, violating section 180.191 of the Florida Statutes. The settlement was reached to resolve these claims without further litigation.