The Sconi

Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that the Wisconsin Department of Justice has reached an agreement with Milwaukee landlord Youssef (Joe) Berrada and his company, Berrada Properties Management, Inc., to resolve a lawsuit filed on November 15, 2021. The agreement is pending approval by the Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance.

“The protections that state law provides for tenants are in place for good reasons, and those protections are especially important when folks are faced with the possibility of being evicted,” stated Attorney General Kaul. “I’m proud that we’ve reached this landmark proposed resolution.”

The settlement includes a payment exceeding $1.7 million, covering civil forfeitures, attorney fees, and other charges as stipulated by state laws. A significant portion of this amount is a civil forfeiture totaling $986,455.92.

Under the terms of the agreement, Berrada Properties will vacate and seal eviction judgments related to disputed late rent or attorney fees and implement several remediation programs. These include an income-based rental program for up to 300 tenants over three to five years and participation in an eviction diversion program. Furthermore, they will establish a $1.3 million credit account for rent assistance grants and offer up to $400,000 in move-out assistance payments for tenants facing eviction.

These programs—income-based rent adjustments, eviction diversion efforts, rent assistance grants, and move-out aid—will be managed by Community Advocates of Milwaukee.

A restitution program is also part of the agreement, requiring payments to tenants affected by unauthorized fees or security deposit issues. Approximately $850,000 is expected to be distributed through this program. Prior restitution has already seen over $1 million returned to tenants for late rent charges.

Despite agreeing to these terms, Berrada Properties does not admit liability or any legal violations as alleged by the State. They deny any wrongdoing under state law.

The lawsuit was initiated following a referral from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), which investigated the allegations against Berrada Properties Management.

DOJ staff involved in this case included Assistant Attorneys General Robert B. Bresette, Cameron D. Oliveira, Gregory A. Myszkowski; Paralegal-Advanced Wendy Phifer; Assistant Attorneys General Colin T. Roth and Anthony D. Russomanno; along with former Assistant Attorneys General R. Duane Harlow and Ezekiel J. Roth-Reynolds.