Legal Question in Consumer Law in Maryland

Wedding reception deception?

In February 2002, I signed a contract to hold my wedding reception on June 7, 2003, at a specific ballroom in a hotel.

I visited the reception site yesterday-- only to discover it is undergoing a $3 million renovation. The entire outside of the hotel is torn up, there are dumpsters and construction equipment everywhere including directly in front of our ballroom, there is scaffolding and plywood in front of the entrance, the plantings outside the hotel are now giant mounds of dirt, and our wedding reception is in 3 weeks. Next week, the interior of the hotel, including our ballroom, is scheduled for a renovation.

We were never told of this project. If we had known about it, we would not have signed a contract with this hotel. The scheduled completion date for the construction is June 10, it is running behind, and our wedding is June 7. We have to pay them the amount due for the reception (approx. $10,000) next week-- before we will know if the construction will be done or not. What-- if any-- legal recourse do I have?


Asked on 5/16/03, 2:42 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

G. Joseph Holthaus III Law Offices of G. Joseph Holthaus

Re: Wedding reception deception?

If you have not paid them already then you have recourse. A wedding reception would ordinarily be expected to be held at a finished facility. You need to notify them of your actions. You also need to make alternate arrangements. There is a lack of understanding that appears to have voided the formation of the contract. There are many things left unsaid in your question so there may be other alternatives.

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Answered on 5/24/03, 3:25 pm
Michael Worsham Michael C. Worsham, Esq.

Re: Wedding reception deception?

You probably need a contract law specialist. Get the hotel to confirm in writing that the hotel will be ready for your wedding. If not, I believe you could file an action for anticipatory repudiation, since they wil have made it clear they are not keeping up with their side of the bargin, assuming that is in fact what the contract says. If they knew about the renovations but did not tell you, I would consider that deceptive under the MD consumer law.

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Answered on 5/16/03, 11:18 pm


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