This settlement resolves claims that debt collector Hunter Warfield pursued Maryland tenants for rent owed on rental homes that lacked a required license. If you are on the class list, you are set to receive $350 per household automatically — there is no claim form to file.
What Is This Settlement About?
Debt collector Hunter Warfield, Inc. agreed to a class action settlement to resolve claims that it pursued Maryland tenants for rent tied to rental properties that lacked the license Maryland law requires. The case — Andrew Blizzard et al. v. Hunter Warfield, Inc., in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland — alleged the company engaged in debt collection and related activity against tenants over rent they were said to owe during periods when the underlying rental property was unlicensed. Hunter Warfield denies wrongdoing and agreed to the settlement to resolve the matter.The settlement is structured as an automatic payment: eligible households do not need to file anything. If the court grants final approval, the settlement administrator will mail $350 to each qualifying household on the court-approved class list, drawn from Hunter Warfield's records.
Who Qualifies?
The settlement class is made up of Maryland tenants who meet all of the following: they lived at a residential rental property in Maryland; the property lacked the rental license required under Maryland law during the relevant period; and Hunter Warfield sued them in a failure-to-pay-rent case, or sent them to collections, for rent they allegedly owed during that unlicensed period. Class membership is determined from Hunter Warfield's records and the court-approved class list rather than from anything you file.For payment purposes, a "household" is each unique leased unit shown in those records. If more than one person was on a lease, the $350 is tied to the unit, not to each individual tenant.
How Much Can You Get?
Each eligible household receives $350. Because this is an automatic-payment settlement, there is no benefit tier to choose, no receipts to submit, and no online claim to file. The administrator issues payments to the households on the class list after the settlement becomes final. Checks must be cashed within 120 days of issuance; funds from checks that are never cashed are redirected to a nonprofit rather than returned to the defendant.What You Need to Do
For most class members, the answer is nothing — payment arrives automatically if the settlement is approved. The one thing worth doing is making sure the administrator has your current mailing address. If you have moved since you received your settlement notice, update your address through the official settlement website so your check reaches you. The website's contact page can also help if you received a notice but have questions about your household's status.Class members who want to keep the right to sue Hunter Warfield individually must opt out by the deadline stated in their notice; those who do nothing remain in the class, receive the automatic payment, and are bound by the settlement's release. The final approval hearing is set for August 25, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the Hunter Warfield settlement?
Maryland tenants who Hunter Warfield sued in a failure-to-pay-rent case, or sent to collections, for rent allegedly owed during a period when the rental property lacked the license required under Maryland law. Class membership is drawn from Hunter Warfield's records and the court-approved class list.
Do I have to file a claim to get paid?
No. If the court grants final approval, eligible households are paid $350 automatically — there is no claim form. Payments are mailed to the households on the court-approved class list.
How much is the payment?
$350 per eligible household, where a household is each unique leased unit in Hunter Warfield's records. Checks must be cashed within 120 days of issuance.
When will payments be mailed?
The final approval hearing is scheduled for August 25, 2026. If approved, the administrator mails payments roughly 28 days after the settlement becomes final and any appeals are resolved. Update your mailing address through the official settlement website if it has changed.
Sources
• Official settlement website — Blizzard v. Hunter Warfield Settlement• Court docket — Andrew Blizzard et al. v. Hunter Warfield, Inc., No. 1:23-cv-03374, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
