(Photo: ApartmentGuide)
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Aug. 14, 2025
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a civil lawsuit Thursday against Monarch Investment and Management Group, LLC and 17 affiliated companies that own and manage more than a dozen rental properties in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area and Rochester, alleging widespread illegal eviction practices and deceptive fee‑charging. (ag.state.mn.us)
The complaint, filed in Fourth Judicial District Court in Hennepin County, alleges that Monarch submitted $259,000 in false and fraudulent claims to the state’s RentHelpMN program between 2021 and 2022, then proceeded to evict tenants despite having received rental assistance payments on their behalf.
The lawsuit also claims tenants were charged illegal and undisclosed fees, including eviction‑related charges, utility administration fees, garage late fees, and excessive renter’s insurance penalties. Attorney General Ellison said these practices “profited off of vulnerable tenants during the pandemic” and violated both state law and RentHelpMN program rules.
Ellison is seeking treble damages, civil penalties, restitution for affected tenants, and reimbursement of legal costs.
“This is about holding landlords accountable for harming tenants and defrauding the state,” Ellison said. “No tenant should face eviction or be charged illegal fees while relying on emergency rental assistance.”
The lawsuit targets dozens of properties across the Twin Cities, including apartments in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and nearby suburbs. No hearing date has been announced, and representatives for Monarch Investment did not immediately respond to requests for comment.