In a significant legal development, a California resident has filed a lawsuit against one of the state’s largest residential rental companies, alleging violations of consumer protection laws. The complaint was lodged by Jon Rey on September 9, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, targeting Bell Fund VII Cadence, LLC.
The case revolves around allegations that Bell Fund VII Cadence, LLC violated the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA) and other related statutes. According to the complaint, Jon Rey applied for an apartment at Bell South City in South San Francisco between 2022 and 2024. During this process, the defendant allegedly obtained investigative consumer reports without providing necessary disclosures or obtaining proper authorizations as mandated by ICRAA. “Defendants concealed from Plaintiffs the nature and type of the investigative consumer reports they would procure,” states the complaint. Furthermore, it accuses Bell Fund VII Cadence of failing to notify applicants about their rights concerning these reports or provide them with copies.
The plaintiff claims that these actions constitute negligence per se and unfair business practices under California’s Business & Professions Code § 17200. The lawsuit asserts that the defendant’s conduct was willful or grossly negligent given their awareness of ICRAA requirements and access to legal counsel. In addition to statutory damages for each violation, Jon Rey seeks compensatory damages for harm suffered due to privacy invasions and informational injuries resulting from these alleged unlawful practices.
Jon Rey is represented by attorney Michael A. Shakouri from Meta Law Group APC based in Los Angeles. The plaintiff is demanding several forms of relief from the court: actual damages; statutory damages amounting to $10,000 per violation; punitive damages; attorneys’ fees; restitution; injunctive relief prohibiting further violations; and compliance with ICRAA requirements regarding disclosure forms and investigative consumer report procedures.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about tenant screening practices within California’s rental industry amidst increasing scrutiny over privacy rights violations related to background checks conducted by landlords or property management companies without adequate transparency or consent mechanisms in place.
Representing Jon Rey is attorney Michael A. Shakouri from Meta Law Group APC while no specific attorneys are listed for Bell Fund VII Cadence LLC yet as defendants’ counsel remains unnamed at this stage pending further proceedings before Judge Daeja Rogers under Case ID CGC-25-628919.
Source: CGC25628919_Jon_Rey_v_Bell_Fund_Complaint_County_of_San_Francisco_California.pdf
