SELA Realty Security Deposit Class Action Settlement
SELA Realty Security Deposit Class Action Settlement
SELA Realty Investments LLC agreed to a settlement providing $141,793.77 in cash payments and $669,408.48 in debt relief over claims that it kept portions of Florida tenants' security deposits without sending the certified mail notice required by the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act. Eligible former tenants who file a claim can receive 60% of the security deposit they paid, and any balance they still owe SELA will be reduced to $0. The claim deadline is November 22, 2026.
Settlement fund
$141.8K
Cash payments, plus $669,408.48 in debt relief
Top payout
60% of your deposit
Plus any balance owed to SELA reduced to $0
Claim deadline
Nov 22, 2026
40 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Nov 22, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You paid a security deposit at a Florida property owned or managed by SELA Realty Investments LLC between April 4, 2021 and April 4, 2025.
- SELA retained some or all of your deposit, and you may not have received a certified mail notice with the required Florida disclosures within 30 days of moving out.
- No proof is mentioned in the notice; you complete the claim form and select how you want to be paid.
- Excluded: Anyone who requests exclusion by the November 22, 2026 deadline.
- Excluded: The presiding judge, Florida appellate judges, their immediate families, and the Released Parties.
Not sure if you qualify? Email the Settlement Administrator at info@SELAsettlement.com, write to Coleman v SELA, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 23668, Jacksonville, FL 32241, contact Class Counsel Matthew Peterson at (815) 999-9130, or visit SELAsettlement.com.
What happened
The lawsuit alleges that SELA Realty Investments LLC, which owns or manages residential rental properties in Florida, violated the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act in renting units and handling security deposits. Plaintiff alleges that when tenants moved out, SELA kept some or all of their deposits without sending, by certified mail within 30 days, a notice containing the disclosures Florida law requires.
SELA denies liability, and no court has decided in favor of either side. The Court conditionally certified a class for settlement purposes only, and the parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and delay of continued litigation. In addition to cash payments, the settlement provides $669,408.48 in debt relief by reducing eligible class members' outstanding balances owed to SELA, including balances sent to a debt collector, to $0.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You may qualify if you paid a security deposit at a Florida property owned or managed by SELA between April 4, 2021 and April 4, 2025, SELA kept some or all of it, and you may not have received a certified mail notice with the required disclosures within 30 days of moving out. If you are unsure, email info@SELAsettlement.com.
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2. Understand your benefits
Eligible class members who submit a valid claim can receive a cash payment equal to 60% of the security deposit they paid to SELA. If you still owe SELA a balance, including a balance sent to a debt collector, that balance will be reduced to $0. The total cash available is $141,793.77, and total debt relief is $669,408.48.
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3. File your claim
Submit your claim through the official online claim form by November 22, 2026 and select your payment method. The notice also refers to mailed claim forms postmarked by that date; if you need a paper form, email info@SELAsettlement.com or write to Coleman v SELA, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 23668, Jacksonville, FL 32241. The notice, settlement agreement, and preliminary approval order are posted at SELAsettlement.com.
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4. Receive your payment
Payments are issued only after the Court grants final approval at the December 2, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing and any appeals are resolved. Payment is sent by the method you select on your claim form. An appeal could delay payments by more than a year.
Key dates
- Nov 22, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Upcoming
- Nov 22, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Dec 2, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (9:00 a.m. ET) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Fairness Hearing is scheduled for December 2, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET via Zoom before the Circuit Court for Duval County, Florida. The Court will also consider Class Counsel's request for attorneys' fees and expenses and the class representative's service award. Exclusion requests must be postmarked, and objections filed with the Court and mailed, by November 22, 2026, and objectors who want to speak must file a notice of intent to appear by November 18, 2026. The Court may move the hearing without further notice, so check SELAsettlement.com for updates.
Where the money is going
The settlement provides $141,793.77 in cash payments, calculated as 60% of the security deposits paid by class members, plus $669,408.48 in debt relief that reduces eligible class members' outstanding balances owed to SELA to $0. Class Counsel will separately ask the Court to approve attorneys' fees and expenses and a service award for the class representative.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Final Fairness Hearing. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. Individual payment amounts depend on the security deposit each class member paid.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
Eligible class members who file a valid claim can receive 60% of the security deposit they paid to SELA. If you still owe SELA a balance, that balance will be reduced to $0. Your exact payment depends on the size of your deposit.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
The notice does not list any documents you must submit. You complete the claim form and select a payment method. If you are asked for additional information, contact the Settlement Administrator at info@SELAsettlement.com.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
The class includes Florida tenants who paid a security deposit at a property owned or managed by SELA between April 4, 2021 and April 4, 2025 and had some or all of it retained. If you believe you qualify but did not receive a notice, email info@SELAsettlement.com or contact Class Counsel at (815) 999-9130 before the November 22, 2026 deadline.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
If you stay in the settlement, you release SELA and the other Released Parties from claims for damages under the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act, as defined in the Settlement Agreement. To keep those rights, you must opt out with a signed request postmarked by November 22, 2026.
When will payments be sent out?
Payments go out only after the Court grants final approval at the December 2, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing and any appeals are resolved. An appeal can add a year or more to that timeline.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with SELA Realty Investments LLC, American Legal Claim Services, LLC (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Matthew Peterson of Consumer Law Advocate, PLLC. The case is Coleman v. SELA Realty Investments LLC, Case No. 2025-CA-002010, pending in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in and for Duval County, Florida before the Honorable Michael Scott Sharrit. Class representatives are Gail Coleman. SELA denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.