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Jacksonville-based property management company, JWB Real Estate Management, has agreed to pay $64,000 in compensation and penalties after the US Department of Justice found it had charged unlawful fees to at least six military servicemembers who tried to terminate their leases due to relocation orders. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protects this right.

    As part of a settlement, JWB will pay over $39,000 to the affected servicemembers and a $25,000 civil penalty. The company has also agreed to revise its policies and training to ensure future compliance with SCRA.

    The US Department of Justice has recovered over $483 million for more than 148,000 servicemembers through SCRA enforcement efforts since 2011. Servicemembers who believe their rights have been violated can seek assistance through the Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program.

    JWB's President, Alex Sifakis, stated that the company takes special care to serve military and veteran residents with respect and has updated its internal processes to prevent similar errors from happening again.