Is it worth me suing a banquet hall for cancelling my wedding arrangment there after booking 7 months prior?

Question

I signed a contract with a local banquet hall to have my wedding reception at there place. A month before the wedding they called me to cancel because they accidentlly double booked my wedding with someone else. I was very upset and with only a little less than a month to go till the big day I could not find another hall. Not to mention I had to move the date either way because I could not find a place. I had already had the band,D.J., food, invitations were already printed, honeymoon planned, ect. They had me go into there office to see if there was another date I would be willing to take. While sitting in the office I asked to know the name of the other couple they double booked us with and without thinking he showed me there paperwork. It was very shocking to see that the couple they double booked me with was paying almost three times more than I was and had only booked with the hall 3 months prior. Please help! If anyone knows a good attorney please let me know.

Answer 1

YES , THEY ARE LIABLE, I HOPE YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE CONTRACT, THEY WILL GET IT FOR BREECH OF CONTRACT.

Answer 2

First things first. A law suit is a way for resolving disputes that cannot be otherwise resolved (alot better than a gunfight).

You have certainly been damaged. You should first decide how much you have been damaged, including the difference in the price of the halls, and the consequential damages (new invitations, etc.). The banquet hall should reimburse you for all of these costs.

IF YOU CANNOT resolve this case informally to your satisfaction, then consider small claims court. The procedures are designed for the average person. The clerk of court should have a booklet on procedures. You can do this yourself, and should leave the proceding feeling as if you have been heard, and that you received a fair hearing --- even if you do not get everything you want.

Answer 3

Yeah you NEED to file a civil case against them.
You said that the people that were double-booked with you only booked 3 months in advance when you booked 7, that is unfair.
I do not know any good attorneys in your area but I do know that you have a h e l l of a case if you sue them. The burden of proof is on you so you have to prove that you were booked before them. Also, you could get other damages if you can prove that they cancelled your booking because they are paying 3x as more. The reason you will get other damages is because of the foreseeable problems that you have gone through as a result of the double-booking.
You may not need a lawyer, but if you are seeking a handsome amount, it is probably not a bad idea.
I apoligize for your inconvenience, that is a disgrace.
Good Luck in the future to both you and your husband.

Answer 4

Banquet Hall Contract

Answer 5

Sue the bastards. They should not be allowed to get away with this. This is what is wrong with our society, there are few morals, just go with the almighty dollar.

Picket them so the public is aware of what thieves and a$$holes they are. I would picket all of their events. Have your friends help because you still want to have a life. As long as your picket signs are truthful and do not contain lies it is legally OK.

Disrupting their new customers will give you much more satisfaction than a lawsuit. But do both.

I don't know the time line involved, but you could sue for "specific performance" and make them honor their contract with you if it is not too late.

Answer 6

If you have a signed contract with them, I suggest you find a good attorney fast. That attorney can write a letter to collect damages. In the meantime, try to find another place to have the banquet, you wouldn't want to have it there after this, obviously, they care more about money than people. What dirty business people!

Answer 7

If it does not state their terms for them canceling your contract in the contract then yes, I think you have a good chance I would wan't to blow the place up! I would look in the phone book for small claims attorneys and set up free consults for ones that you can afford to hire and take all paper work and correspondence from the Co. to your Appt. and get 2-3 oppinions...then
H*I*R*E*

Answer 8

Absolutely sue these bastards! They didn't double book you, they breached their contract with you for more money. You should be able to get back from them everything that you paid and will lose--DJ, band, caterer deposit, honemoon travel payments,new invitations, everything. I would try to get punitive damages, since it was an intentional breach, when they knew it would ruin one of the biggest days of your life, though this last part may not be successful.
If it is still before the day, I would try to sue them for specific performance--force them to give you your original wedding date. Do not let them get away with this.

Answer 9

If you had to reprint, had extra charges, lost time from work, I would write them a letter and tell them that you want reimbursed for this inconvenience. List it pointedly, item by item, have the paper backing as proof, and then state you expect to be reimbursed. If they do not do so, then take them to small claims court.

I would also report them to the Better Business Bureau or make a Consumer's Complaint with the AG's office.

Answer 10

You have to ask yourself what would you be suing for? In most states, you cannot recover emotional distress in a breach of contract lawsuit. Were you actually out of pocket and unable to reschedule the other vendors like the DJ and photographer?

Answer 11

ABSOLUTELY.....i would take them to small claims court for the money that you were out. you have a legally binding contract and if they screwed up, they should pay. think about it, if you called them the day before because you weren't going to get married, they would make you pay, or not return your money since there was a contract.