Castillo vs. Johnson Utilities

From his decades-long career as an attorney, Phoenix-based Jeff Goulder is no stranger to complex fraud cases – but it was rare to see one so close to home, in a case against Johnson Utilities, the local East Valley water and sewer company. The lawsuit alleged that Johnson Utilities had provided substandard water and sewage service for years, while company funds were improperly diverted, and that the company had avoided meaningful regulatory scrutiny along the way.

On behalf of consumers who alleged they had overpaid for their utilities, Jeff filed suit. After obtaining litigation financing from Legalist to support ongoing court costs, Jeff and his team secured a $10 million class action settlement for Johnson Utilities customers dating back to 2011. Consumers were compensated – and the case sent a clear message about accountability and fair play.