TX AG accuses San Antonio lodge of price-gouging in storm

AUSTIN — The Texas lawyer common sued a San Antonio lodge proprietor Thursday and accused the operator of price-gouging throughout final month’s storm that left hundreds of thousands of Texans with out energy and warmth throughout sub-freezing temperatures.

The lawyer common accuses Everyoung Hospitality, proprietor of the La Quinta San Antonio Brook Metropolis Base, of dramatically elevating costs throughout the storm. The lawsuit filed in state district courtroom in Bexar County seeks as much as $250,000 in damages for every violation of the state legislation towards misleading commerce practices.

Lawyer Basic Ken Paxton accused the lodge of “gross exploitation of Texans in dire want of shelter throughout historic low temperatures.”

Within the lawsuit, the lawyer common mentioned a person and his spouse who had been common prospects for 3 years had their day by day charge raised from $65 to $189.

One other household with a 101-year-old grandmother booked two rooms for a one-night keep at $74 an evening, however after they prolonged their keep the worth rose to $199 an evening. The person recorded a clerk explaining that costs have been rising as a result of the lodge was totally booked, “There’s an extended ready record. Everyone is coming.”

A person who answered a cellphone quantity listed for Everyoung Hospitality mentioned the La Quinta raised costs because the variety of obtainable rooms declined, which he mentioned is a typical apply within the lodge enterprise.

The person mentioned the lodge incurred further prices for electrical energy, pure fuel and meals throughout the storm, and pets owned by visitors broken carpeting. He mentioned the lodge didn’t make any cash throughout the storm. He declined to offer his title.

The lawsuit identifies Everyoung’s registered agent as Xiang Yang of San Antonio.

Texas legislation prohibits promoting gas, meals, medication, lodging and different requirements at extreme costs throughout state or federal catastrophe declarations. Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency throughout the storm.