Frivolous Suit vs Hotwire Over Ratings
Sep 21
I received this email on Sept. 18 regarding a potential class action against Hotwire.com claiming the travel site’s star ratings were misleading. I’m been happy with Hotwire much more often than not. And the star ratings for the hotels I’ve received were mostly accurate.
Dear Keith Kamisugi:
Please be advised that a consumer (hereafter the “Plaintiff”) who made a hotel reservation using the Hotwire.com website has filed a proposed class action lawsuit in California state court against Hotwire, Inc. on behalf of a group of California consumers who, since 2004, received a hotel room utilizing Hotwire.com.
The lawsuit alleges that Hotwire, Inc. uses a “Star Rating Guide” on its website, which sets forth various hotel brands and equate these brands with particular “star” ratings. Plaintiff believes that after he paid for his hotel stay on Hotwire, he was booked in a hotel of a lesser star rating than he believed he should get, based on Hotwire’s “Star Rating Guide.” Plaintiff believes that this also happened at some point between 2004 and the present to each person who is receiving this letter.
The Plaintiff is represented by the following law firm:
LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN T. BARNES
Kevin T. Barnes, Esq.
Gregg Lander, Esq.
5670 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1460
Los Angeles, CA 90036-5614
Tel: (323) 549-9100 / Fax: (323) 549-0101
Email: Barnes@kbarnes.comHotwire, Inc. disputes Plaintiff’s contentions and asserts that with regard to Hotwire’s star ratings, Plaintiff is not entitled to recover in this action. Hotwire, Inc. is represented by the following law firm:
Jacqueline M. Jauregui, Esq.
Sandra C. Hung, Esq.
SEDGWICK, DETERT, MORAN & ARNOLD LLP
801 S. Figueroa Street, 18th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017-5556
Tel: (213) 426-6900 / Fax: (213) 426-6921
Email: Jacqueline.Jauregui@sdma.comThe first step in the legal process is a determination by the Court as to whether the lawsuit should proceed as a class action. To complete this investigation, Plaintiff’s attorneys have requested your name and contact information so that they can complete their investigation. Plaintiff has signed a protective order to ensure that such information is not used for anything but this litigation or for any improper purpose.
Hotwire, Inc. has not yet disclosed your contact information to the Plaintiff’s attorneys. Instead, the parties have agreed to send this email to you to give you an opportunity, if you so choose, to agree to the release of your contact information.
If you want your contact information released, you must reply to this email no later than November 2, 2007, which is forty-five (45) days from the date of this letter, stating that you want your contact information (name, address, telephone number and email address) provided to Plaintiff’s attorneys in connection with the lawsuit against Hotwire, Inc. regarding Star Ratings.
