A luxury hotel in Pasadena has agreed to pay $320,000 to resolve allegations of price-gouging during the 2020 Bobcat Fire, according to officials. The settlement follows claims that the hotel raised room rates for evacuees seeking shelter during the wildfire.
Allegations of Inflated Room Rates
The Langham Huntington Pasadena was accused of increasing prices for guests who were forced to evacuate their homes due to the Bobcat Fire, which threatened the Eaton Canyon area in September 2020. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office stated that the hotel charged rates above the legal limit set during a state of emergency.
“During a declared emergency, it is illegal to increase the price of essential goods and services, including lodging, by more than 10 percent,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Settlement Terms and Distribution
Under the settlement, the Langham Huntington Pasadena will pay $320,000. Of this amount, $260,000 will be distributed as restitution to guests who paid the increased rates during the Bobcat Fire evacuation period. The remaining $60,000 will cover civil penalties and investigation costs.
The hotel has also agreed to implement measures to ensure compliance with price-gouging laws in the future, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Hotel’s Response
Representatives for the Langham Huntington Pasadena stated that the hotel has cooperated fully with the investigation and has taken steps to prevent similar incidents. The hotel did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Background on the Bobcat Fire
The Bobcat Fire, which began in September 2020, burned more than 115,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest and surrounding communities. Thousands of residents were evacuated as the fire threatened homes in the foothills above Pasadena and neighboring cities.
Further Information
For additional details, visit the original report at this link.
