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Another six filings announced today are the third group of lawsuits brought by State Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa and the State Division of Consumer Affairs following investigations of complaints filed by consumers.
The state now has filed suit against two dozen New Jersey businesses – 13 hotels/motels and 11 gas stations – for alleged price gouging.
The hotel owners, in particular, did so “at a time when vulnerable consumers desperately needed the most basic of necessities – shelter,” Chiesa said. “There is no excuse, legally or morally, for businesses trying to gouge consumers in the aftermath of a widespread disaster, and we are holding them accountable.”
The latest list includes the Gulf station at 141 Johnson Avenue in Hackensack.
Ali Syed Gas Inc. hiked prices for regular gas at the Hackensack station by 17.6 percent ($3.40 per gallon to $4 per gallon), the price of premium gas by 28 percent ($3.90 per gallon to $4.10 per gallon), and the price of diesel fuel by 29 percent ($3.88 per gallon to $4.10 per gallon) during the declared state of emergency, state authorities allege.
- YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A trio of hotels operated by a North Bergen-based company, a gas station in the township and a Comfort Suites in Mahwah are among 10 businesses smacked with price-gouging lawsuits by state authorities. READ MORE….
- YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Subpoenas have been issued to 65 businesses throughout New Jersey, as an investigation into more than 500 consumer complaints about price gouging heats up, state officials said this afternoon. READ MORE….
The others, according to Chiesa and the DCA:
· Hospitality Management of Parsippany, LLC (doing business as Days Inn), 3159 Route 46 East, Parsippany. This hotel allegedly increased room rates by up to 204% ($62.10 vs. 189.00 per night) during the declared state of emergency. Investigators found 258 occurrences of alleged price gouging.
· Amy Hotels, LLC (d/b/a Econo Lodge), 6641 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township. This hotel allegedly increased room rates by up to 150% ($75.00 vs. $199.99 per night) during the declared state of emergency. Investigators found 545 occurrences of alleged price gouging.
· Barclay Hospitality Services, Inc. (d/b/a Homewood Suites by Hilton), 3819 Route 1, Princeton. This hotel allegedly increased room rates by up to 77% ($129.00 vs. 229.00 per night) during the declared state of emergency. Investigators found 108 occurrences of alleged price gouging.
· Riya Hazlet Hotel, LLC (d/b/a/ Holiday Inn Hazlet), 2870 Route 35, Hazlet. This hotel allegedly increased room rates by up to 70% ($134.95 vs. $229.95 per night) during the declared state of emergency. Investigators found 124 occurrences of alleged price gouging.
· Infant King Management, LLC (d/b/a Howard Johnson Inn), 8029 Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville. The defendant allegedly increased room rates by up to 58% ($75.00 vs. $119.00 per night) during the declared state of emergency. Investigators found 52 occurrences of alleged price gouging.
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