Lawyers Kick Back Award to Help Homeless

Two homeless shelters in Dallas received a $784,000 chunk of a $2.65-million settlement won two years ago by apartment dwellers who were illegally billed for water.

Roger Mandel and Bruce Priddy filed the class-action lawsuit in 2000 on behalf of 18,000 apartment dwellers, accusing United Dominion Realty Trust of Richmond, Va., of charging for water at apartments that did not have metered service.

The suit was settled that year with a provision for the money to go to the Vogel Alcove and the Austin Street Centre. Mandel and Priddy split $904,000.

The Rev. Harry Dailey of the Austin Street shelter said he was heartened to get money from two lawyers. “They could have pocketed it. Instead they chose to have some compassion.”