Six Trails Resident Sues to Prevent Internet and Cable Change

A Washtenaw County Court judge granted a temporary restraining order preventing Six Trails Apartments from changing its cable and Internet carrier last week.

Six Trails Apartments planned to shut off its Comcast Cable connection and use Suite Solutions, an Ohio-based telecommunications firm, to provide Internet, television and phone service to residents.

But those plans are on hold because Six Trails resident Scott Perry sued the housing complex’s owner, SG Riveroaks Apartment Holdings LLC, Suite Solutions and Comcast. Perry is concerned he’s going to be forced to pay more for worse service, according to his attorney Luke Schmerberg, of Schmerberg Law.

On June 6, Circuit Court Judge Carol Kuhnke granted a temporary restraining order that prevents the apartment complex, Suite Solutions or Comcast from interrupting the residents’ current telecommunication services. Perry’s complaint says forcing residents to change telecom providers violates existing contracts, Michigan’s Consumer Protection Act and Michigan’s Antitrust Reform Act.

Schmerberg said Perry’s lease does not include language that would require Perry to cancel his contract with Comcast and go with a new provider. Schmerberg said his client would be required to pay more each month to get the same kind of service he enjoys now. Perry and other Six Trails residents are also concerned about the reliability of the service offered by Suite Solutions, Schmerberg said.

“Some residents pointed to reviews of the company on Yelp. The reviews weren’t very charitable,” Schmerberg said. “If you’re someone who telecommutes and does business from home, you need assurances that the connection will be up. Suite Solutions doesn’t appear to have the best track record.”

A representative of apartment complex said Perry’s case is baseless.

“We feel there is no validity to Mr. Perry’s lawsuit. We apologize for the inconvenience this is causing our other residents,” said Maria Baker, an asset manager for SG Riveroaks Apartment Holdings. “Our attorneys are handling this and we expect to have this matter resolved shortly.”

Baker said the company’s contract with Comcast expired.

“We have only one set of wiring into the complex. We can only offer one cable provider,” Baker said.

Schmerberg said the arrangement between his client and Comcast remains valid.

“Scott Perry pays the bill and Comcast provides the service to him. Comcast provides him the decoder and equipment and he is responsible for that equipment,” Schmerberg said. “There is nothing in the lease that says residents will have their telecommunications company chosen for them.”

The restraining order prevented the Comcast service from being shut off last week. The matter returns to court at 3 p.m., June 26.  Perry is seeking a preliminary injunction against the defendants.

More News from Saline

• SOFTBALL: Saline Roars Back to Earn Split With Dexter Saline split its doubleheader with Dexter Monday to maintain its grip on the SEC Red.
• BASEBALL: Saline Rebounds to Split Doubleheader with Dexter Saline lost its first SEC Red game of the season against Dexter Monday but rebounded for a split to keep the Hornets atop the conference.