Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Hundreds of skiers are joining a class action lawsuit against Vail Resorts.
- The lawsuit alleges Vail Resorts failed to disclose a ski patrol strike, impacting vacations.
- The lawsuit claims the aggregate amount of damages could exceed $5 million.
SALT LAKE CITY — The class action lawsuit against the owner of Park City Mountain Resort, Vail Resorts, is rapidly expanding as hundreds of disgruntled skiers worldwide reach out to join the claim, alleging that the company ruined their vacations by failing to notify them of a ski patrol strike at Park City Mountain Resort.
Widespread impact and growing plaintiffs
Chris Bisillion, the lead plaintiff, claims he experienced significant disruptions during his family's $15,000 ski vacation, which led to the lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, tickets cost as much as $289 a day. One of Bisillion's attorneys, Pete Flowers, noted that since filing the lawsuit, hundreds of individuals have contacted his office to express similar frustrations and seek inclusion in the legal action.
Legal grounds and corporate accountability
The lawsuit accuses Vail Resorts of violating the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act, Fraudulent Concealment, and Unjust Enrichment, outlining specific failures that plaintiffs argue are at odds with fair business practices.
The Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act prohibits deceptive practices in consumer transactions, which the plaintiffs allege Vail Resorts violated by not disclosing the ski patrol strike and its impact on the resort's operations.
Fraudulent Concealment claims center on allegations that the company knowingly withheld critical information from customers. By failing to disclose the strike, Vail Resorts is accused of intentionally misleading skiers who purchased tickets and accommodations, expecting a full-service experience.
The Unjust Enrichment claim argues that Vail Resorts unfairly profited from the situation, collecting premium rates for services it allegedly knew it could not deliver. Lead attorney Pete Flowers suggested that this was a deliberate decision by the company to prioritize profits over customer satisfaction. "They made a conscious decision to essentially just decide, you know, we're going to increase our profits at the expense of people's happiness," Flowers stated.
Safety concerns
While no one has come forward with injuries, Flowers emphasized that overcrowded runs posed significant safety risks, particularly for families worried about their children. Flowers also criticized the resort for not using its widespread advertising means to inform the public about the strike and potential disruptions. "It was not only unsafe but extremely unfair to the people that decided they wanted to do that for a holiday," Flowers added.
Expert weighs in on legal and ethical implications
University of Utah law professor Chris Petersen remarked on the case's potential impact, emphasizing the importance of transparency. "If your employees are going on strike, you better tell the customers that you can't deliver, maybe reduce your prices, or give some refunds to strike a fair balance with everyone," Petersen said.
Petersen also commented on the timeline for resolution, noting that it is difficult to put a definitive timeline on class action lawsuits. However, he explained that cases like this typically settle out of court. "I anticipate that the parties should probably be able to come to some resolution relatively soon ... anywhere from three months to two years," he added.
What is at stake
The lawsuit claims the aggregate amount of damages could exceed $5 million, but it also highlights the financial power of Vail Resorts, which reported nearly $3 billion in revenue for 2023.
Beyond monetary compensation, the suit emphasizes that a successful outcome would prevent Vail Resorts from repeating similar actions in the future by holding the company accountable for failing to notify customers of critical disruptions. The potential for systemic change adds significant weight to the legal action.
Vail Resorts has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
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