GREENBELT, MD – A federal judge has ruled that a proposed class action lawsuit against Camden Development, Inc. over undisclosed apartment fees must return to Maryland state court, marking the second time the case has been remanded from federal jurisdiction.
In a memorandum opinion issued this week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland granted plaintiffs John Hall and Monica M. Bahena’s motion to remand their amended class action complaint. The ruling stems from a dispute over Camden’s utility billing and advertising practices at several of its Maryland apartment complexes, including Camden College Park, Camden Fallsgrove, Camden Shady Grove, and Camden Washingtonian.
The case alleges violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act, and state common law. Hall and Bahena, former tenants, contend that Camden used misleading advertising by failing to disclose required utility charges under its Ratio Utility Billing System—known as RUBS—when listing rent prices online. They argue that renters were induced to pay nonrefundable application fees before learning about additional mandatory costs.
Camden, which operates hundreds of apartment developments nationwide, had removed the case to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA), asserting that the lawsuit met federal jurisdictional thresholds. However, the court found that the plaintiffs’ amended complaint did not present sufficient grounds for federal jurisdiction under CAFA and that state court was the proper venue for the dispute.
Court again rejects federal jurisdiction
This is not the first time the case has bounced between courts. The same judge previously sent an earlier version of the complaint back to state court in October 2025, citing a lack of standing. Camden once again removed the lawsuit after the plaintiffs amended their claims, but the judge ruled that federal jurisdiction still did not apply, effectively ending the developer’s second attempt to keep the case in federal court.
According to filings, Hall and Bahena began searching for a new apartment in March 2024, hoping to stay under a monthly budget of $1,800. They found a listing for a Camden College Park unit advertised at $1,729 per month on Zillow and paid a $50 application fee. The couple later alleged that undisclosed utility charges pushed the real cost above what had been advertised.
Key takeaways from the ruling
• The court granted plaintiffs’ motion to remand their class action against Camden Development
• Judge ruled that federal jurisdiction under CAFA did not apply to the amended complaint
• Case centers on alleged failure to disclose RUBS utility fees in Maryland apartment listings
With the federal court’s latest order, the case will proceed in Maryland state court, where plaintiffs seek to represent other tenants who say they were similarly misled about the true cost of renting from Camden’s apartment communities.
Maryland tenants’ fee disclosure claims to proceed in state court