Meyers & Flowers, Tarpey Wix LLC, and The Spence Law Firm File Class Action Lawsuit Against Vail Resorts, Inc. Over Deceptive Business Practices Amid Ski Patrol Strike
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Park City, UT – January 9th, 2025 – Meyers & Flowers, alongside Tarpey Wix LLC, and The Spence Law Firm, have filed a class action lawsuit against Vail Resorts, Inc., owner and operations management company of Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR), for its deceptive and fraudulent business practices. The lawsuit alleges that Vail Resorts intentionally and willfully deceived hundreds of thousands of its customers by failing to disclose that the ski patrol and mountain safety personnel union, which is comprised of workers essential to the safety of the skiers and the operations at PCMR, were on strike. Leaving visitors, who had already spent thousands of dollars on lift tickets, accommodations, and other travel expenses, without access to a significant amount of the resort’s services.
According to the lawsuit, Vail Resorts knowingly sold lift tickets and other services without informing customers that nearly 80% of the resort’s operations were impacted by the strike. Guests were left unable to fully enjoy the experience they had paid for, including incidents in which guests were stuck waiting several hours to get on a ski lift to ski for only a few minutes before being forced to get back into line to wait with thousands of other skiers.
“Families traveled to Park City Mountain Resort expecting a premium experience, only to arrive and find that what they paid for was far from what was delivered,” said Peter Flowers, a founding partner at Meyers & Flowers. “The resort had an obligation to inform customers about the strike, and its failure to do so resulted in significant financial losses and ruined vacations for countless guests, which was incredibly despicable.”
The plaintiff and his family were among those visitors to experience the colossal nightmare. The plaintiff had planned a family holiday ski trip to Park City, where he spent over $15,000 on what he believed would be a “ski experience of a lifetime” as promoted by Vail Resorts. Shortly after they had arrived, he learned that this promise was far from reality. The family, who had planned on skiing each day over the week, was only able to ski less than ten runs over the duration of their vacation. Their story represents just one of many customers who suffered financial and emotional harm due to the resort’s failure to disclose the strike.
“This isn’t just about a bad vacation—it’s about a corporation deliberately misleading its customers to maximize profits,” said Daniel W. Tarpey, a seasoned litigator at Tarpey Wix LLC. “Vail Resorts took advantage of its customers’ trust, and we’re here to hold them accountable for their actions.”
The lawsuit also detailed how Vail Resorts knew as early as December 16th that a strike was coming for the upcoming holiday ski season if it did not reach an agreement with the Ski Patrol Union, but they did nothing to alert the public despite this advanced knowledge. Even when the Ski Patrol Union officially went on strike on December 27th Vail Resorts still did not take any action to warn consumers and continued to allow skiers to purchase lift tickets under the impression that their ski experience would be what the consumers expected. It was not until January 4th, eight days after the start of the strike, that Vail Resorts finally included an “Operations Update” on the PCMR website.
“All three of us remember very well what it was like when our family would save up for a holiday vacation.” Said Mel C. Orchard, partner at The Spence Law Firm. “Lots of hopes, dreams and squirreled away money thrown down the drain because one company decided not to tell people the truth. Was Scrooge advising Vail?”
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About Meyers & Flowers
Led by Illinois Top 100 Super Lawyer and former President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Peter J. Flowers, the Meyers & Flowers’ team of experienced trial attorneys routinely take on large challenges and succeed. For more than two decades, the firm has represented clients both locally in Chicago and nationally in a full spectrum of cases involving class action lawsuits, catastrophic personal injuries, product liability, and business litigation.
About Tarpey Wix LLC
Tarpey Wix, founded 14 years ago by two partners from AmLaw 100 firms, brings all the skill in handling high-stakes, commercial litigation matters from big firms while providing alternative cost-effective fee arrangements. Tarpey Wix puts its “own skin in the game” in every engagement it takes on. The firm has tried cases to successful verdict on behalf of its clients all around the country against the biggest and most reputable firms and predicates its success on bringing results the firm’s clients deserve.
About the Spence Law Firm, LLC
Nationally recognized as one of the greatest lawyers of all time, Gerry Spence founded The Spence Law Firm over 70 years ago, remaining as one of the preeminent law firms in the nation. Fighting for everyday people in the West, the Spence firm has lawyers who have tried cases from coast to coast. No case too big, no challenge too daunting. Getting Justice for ordinary people? That’s all we do.
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