Class-action settlement approved against Northern California bail bonds company
Bad Boys Bail Bonds will forfeit $38 million in debt after a class-action settlement over misleading contracts.Summary
A class-action settlement has been approved against Northern California bail bonds company Bad Boys Bail Bonds, requiring them to forfeit $38 million in debt owed by over 18,000 customers. The lawsuit alleged that the company used misleading and exploitative contracts, failing to provide legally required co-signer notices, and harassing individuals for money they didn’t knowingly agree to pay. One plaintiff, an Alameda security guard, was allegedly tricked into signing a contract and faced relentless harassment, including threats to her job, despite the debt being unenforceable.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs hailed the agreement as a victory for low-income families and communities of color. The settlement mandates that Bad Boys Bail Bonds provide required notices in the future and improve staff training, with a court-appointed monitor ensuring compliance. The law firm stated that the company’s business model relied on noncompliance with California law, targeting friends and family of those arrested and deceiving them into cosigning unenforceable agreements.
In addition to the debt forfeiture, Bad Boys Bail Bonds must implement changes to ensure transparency and fairness, according to Niall Frizzell, an attorney involved in the case. The company, headquartered in San Jose with offices throughout the state, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
(Source：The Mercury News)