TULSA, Oklahoma – The owner of Vista Shadow Mountain Apartments recently settled a case involving residents who had become homeless.
The total amount of compensation was $400,000, but one local resident, Dennis Beard, didn’t know how to get his share until he called the 2 News Oklahoma newsroom.
Beard is living in a new place. He is trying to move on with his life. He was evicted from the Vista Shadow Mountain Apartments a few years ago along with hundreds of others. He was past that episode.
“Well, it was really completely wiped from my memory,” Beard said. “I thought nothing would come of it.”
That was until he saw 2 News’ report on the agreement.
WATCH: 2 News previously reported on the agreement between owner and tenant
$400,000: Owner of Vista Shadow Mountain Apt. reaches agreement with displaced residents
$16,000 goes to the lead plaintiffs, and the rest get about $2,000. That includes Beard, but he didn’t know who to turn to.
“The next day I started calling numbers and hit a dead end for four days,” Beard said.
He then called 2 News. The newsroom staff was able to help Beard contact attorney Jared Burden.
Burden emailed 2 News a statement immediately after the settlement.
“After three years of litigation, the class can now move forward,” Burden said.
Beard is one of the people who will get about $2,000.
“I’m going to pay all my bills here. You know, pay my electricity, get some more groceries for the house, probably buy some more furniture,” Beard said.
In the meantime, he tries to pass the favor on.
“A lot of people don’t know this agreement exists. A lot of them will miss it. That’s why I’m trying to reach out to the people I knew there,” Beard said.
Beard expects his part of the agreement any day now.
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