Release date: 7/10/2019
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today was granted a default judgment against Utah-based event production companies Lantern Fest Productions and Sack Lunch Productions in a lawsuit he filed last year alleging unfair and deceptive business practices. Superior Court Judge A. Graham Shirley entered the judgment, which bars both companies from advertising, selling tickets to, and producing any entertainment events in North Carolina. Lantern Fest and Sack Lunch are also required to pay $80,607.05 in customer restitution and $7,965,000 in civil penalties.
“These out-of-state companies took money from consumers for events they were prohibited from holding in North Carolina and then failed to refund the money when the events were canceled,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I will always hold accountable anyone who treats consumers unfairly.”
In March 2018, Attorney General Stein filed a lawsuit alleging that Lantern Fest and Sack Lunch planned, advertised, and sold tickets to events in Fayetteville and Goldsboro while promising that tickets could be refunded up to seven days before the event. The companies were forced to cancel the events because the aerial lanterns they use are prohibited under the North Carolina Fire Code. Once the events were canceled, the companies failed to stop selling tickets immediately and did not provide refunds to people who had purchased tickets. They also failed to respond to repeated consumer concerns.
A copy of the judgment is available here.
Contact:
Laura Brewer (919) 716-6484