Legal Question in Consumer Law in New Jersey

Is the Professional Reunion Planner Responsible?

A professional reunion planning company communicated incorrect information on the date of a reunion. Before making travel plans from Florida to New Jersey, I contacted them to verify the date. I was told it was on 10/07/2006 and they would send out invitations the first week of August. I received my invite on 08/07/06 for the reunion on 10/07/06. Two days later, I received another invitation with a letter stating there was a typographical error regarding the date of the reunion on the first invitation and the reunion is actually scheduled for 10/28/06. I feel they should be responsible for the extra travel expenses incurred due to their mistake. I need to find out if I have any legal recourse against the company and if I should expect some compensation from them.


Asked on 9/30/06, 4:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Corbett Corbett Law Firm LLC

Re: Is the Professional Reunion Planner Responsible?

The situation has some unusual legal twists, but your intuition is correct: you do have a valid cause of action against the planning company. One theory would be that you are a third-party beneficiary of the contract between the company and whatever organization is the sponsor. So, you will have to prove that there was such a contract and its terms. I expect that discovery will show insufficient facts to support that theory to the satisfaction of the court. However, you can also plead an equitable (fairness) claim known as "detrimental reliance." You will have to show that the company made a statement to you expecting you to rely on it which you did to your detriment. That is probably a winning theory.

The next question is where to file suit and you have not given me enough information to answer that question.

See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm

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Answered on 10/01/06, 10:43 pm


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