FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 17, 2002

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Genene Morris (973)504-6327

NEWARK - New Jersey is suing the Grand Hotel of Wildwood Crest for allegedly misleading consumers through advertisements that falsely depicted the hotel's facilities as clean and luxurious even though it was in a serious state of disrepair and had been fined more than $16,000 for fire code violations.

The complaint names Grand Hotel of Wildwood Crest, 9601 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest and its owner John Patatucci.

Approximately 43 consumers have complained to Consumer Affairs that they paid hundreds of dollars to stay at the hotel after seeing advertisements. However, when they arrived, consumers complained that the hotel was filthy, foul-smelling and lacked air-conditioning in certain areas. Some guests complained that they saw puddles of bug-infested standing water, their rooms were filthy and the outdoor "kiddie" pool left blue stain marks on the children's skin after they brushed against the pool walls.

One consumer complained that when he and his family arrived at the hotel, the bathroom in their room had no hot water to take a shower. When they complained, a maintenance worker, who smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated, was sent to the room to fix the problem. They also found that during the course of the evening as he and his family slept, the television set would turn on spontaneously.

When they complained and attempted to check out, they were told the hotel could not process the paperwork at night and that they could be subjected to additional charges if they left.

Another woman complained to Consumer Affairs that she, too, saw the hotel's brochures and based on what she saw put down a deposit. However, when she checked into the hotel in August 2002, she found the condition of the hotel not as it was depicted in the brochure. There was no air conditioning in the lobby, elevators or halls; the hallways were so foul-smelling that she held her breath each time she walked down them; and the bathrooms off the lobby were filthy and foul-smelling.

Another man, a liver-transplant recipient, complained that when he booked his room, he explained that he needed clean and healthy accommodations. When he and his family arrived, they found the room had no hot water, the door frame on the sliding glass door leading to the balcony was so corroded with wood rot that it allowed flies to come into the room. When he complained, hotel workers took no measures to correct the problem. He left the hotel and was denied a full refund of the nearly $2,000 he paid to stay in the room.

"It is not acceptable for businesses to mislead consumers and misrepresent their services," Governor James E. McGreevey said. "Such practices are distasteful, abhorrent and against the law."

"The condition of the hotel was anything but grand," Attorney General Samson said. "Despite this fact, the defendants allegedly persisted in advertising and representing the hotel to consumers as being posh and luxurious."

"The defendants in this case concealed from consumers the fact that the hotel was in a serious state of disrepair and, yet, they took money from consumers who, based on the hotel's advertisements, expected more than what they got," Erdos said.

The State's case against the Grand Hotel seeks to have the defendants pay civil penalties, attorneys fees and restitution.

Deputy Attorney General Pamela A. Dougherty of the Division of Law is handling this case for the State.