2026-08-18 · housing
Trump's Planned Landlord Bailout Would Cost Billions
The Justice Department is in settlement talks with rental property owners, led by Darby Development, who sued in 2021 claiming damages from the federal COVID eviction moratorium, after DOJ declined late last year to seek Supreme Court review of an appellate ruling that revived the case. The settlement was estimated earlier this year at $1.5 billion covering about 1,500 property owners, and plaintiffs' counsel said the group has grown to more than 2,000 plaintiffs, requiring a new damages estimate. The Prospect reported the plaintiff class is dominated by LLCs and investment vehicles controlled by Starwood Capital Group, Dominium, and Morgan Properties, though it also includes small proprietors.
The Supreme Court held in summer 2021 that the CDC's extension of the moratorium exceeded executive authority, the ruling DOJ originally cited in seeking dismissal of the claims-court suit.