Washington,
D.C., May 13, 2005 - The Cullen Law
Firm, PLLC announces that a consumer class action
lawsuit was filed on May 13,2005 in the Superior
Court of the District of Columbia against Marriott
International, Inc., on behalf of all guests of Marriott's
hotels in Moscow since May 13, 2002. The complaint,
filed under the District of Columbia Consumer Protection
Procedures Act, alleges that Marriott made deceptive
and misleading representations through its worldwide,
internet based reservation system on the rates that
would be charged at its hotel properties in Russia
. According to the complaint, Marriott quotes rates
in U.S. Dollars knowing that the final hotel bill
will be paid in Russian Rubles in amounts that are
higher than those calculated at the official exchange
rate. Hotel guests find out about the problem when
they get their credit card statement in dollars.
According to the complaint, consumers generally end
up paying 18 percent more than the amount quoted
by Marriott when their reservations were made. Paul
D. Cullen, Sr., counsel for the plaintiffs, estimates
that there have been several hundred thousand hotel
guests victimized by the deceptive practices alleged
in the complaint during the period covered by the
three year statute of limitations.
Marriott International, Inc. is incorporated in
Delaware and is headquartered in Washington , D.C.
The complaint describes a, "longstanding, widespread
and unambiguous" effort by Marriott to promote the
fact that it maintains its headquarters in Washington
, DC . The complaint alleges that Marriott's location
in the nation's capitol is an important part of its
consumer franchise and brand identification: "Marriott
has breached the bonds of trust with the traveling
public," according to the complaint, "resulting in
thousands of consumers being bilked millions of dollars
a year." According to Mr. Cullen, "Marriott should
be held accountable under the laws of the District
of Columbia to the full universe of patrons it has
set out to attract because of its deep roots in the
nation's capitol." The complaint seeks statutory
damages of $1,500 per violation of the D.C. Consumer
Protection Procedures Act, plus injunctive relief
restraining Marriott from continuing the alleged
conduct.
Individuals who have stayed at any of Marriott's
affiliated hotels in Russia are encouraged to contact
The Cullen Law Firm at info@cullenlaw.com. To view
a copy of the complaint, click
here.
For additional information, contact:
Paul D. Cullen, Sr. pdc@cullenlaw.com
The
Cullen Law Firm, PLLC 1101 30th Street, N.W. Suite
300
Washington , D.C. 20007 (202) 944-8600
(202) 944-8611
[fax] |
