EASTON, Pa. — An Easton-based events company and its owner who were linked to a Philadelphia comic convention that never happened has agreed to offer $20,000 in refunds in an agreement with the state attorney general's office.
Great Conventions LLC and owner Christopher Wertz will pay consumers who bought tickets to the Great Philadelphia Comic Con event set for 2020 in agreement to resolve litigation that Attorney General Michelle Henry’s office announced Monday.
“If an event is canceled, ticket holders deserve their money back, plain and simple. These defendants thought they could skirt the law by postponing the event as long as possible to hold on to the money they made from ticket sales.”Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry
Great Conventions organized the event, originally set for April 4-6, 2020, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. Repeated rescheduling because of COVID-19 restrictions eventually led to a final cancellation in March 2021.
In November 2021, the attorney general’s office filed suit against the Easton company and Wertz, alleging they violated the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law by failing to either reschedule the Comic Con or provide refunds to customers.
“If an event is canceled, ticket holders deserve their money back, plain and simple,” Henry said. “These defendants thought they could skirt the law by postponing the event as long as possible to hold on to the money they made from ticket sales.”
The Consent Petition was filed in Montgomery County Court by Senior Deputy Attorney General Debra Djupman Warring.
Lawsuit filed in 2021
Under the terms of the consent petition, the defendants will pay $20,000 in restitution, which will be distributed to consumers who bought tickets to the event, provided they filed a complaint to the state attorney general's office.
Great Conventions LLC also will be permanently prevented from operating and/or selling tickets to conventions or other public events in Pennsylvania, and any practices that further violate the Consumer Protection Law.
“COVID-related cancellations can’t be an excuse for businesses to just walk away with consumers’ money."Then-Pa. Attorney General Josh Shapiro
Customers who bought a ticket and wish to be considered for restitution can file a complaint form by May 10, and attach a receipt showing they bought a ticket to the 2020 convention.
Consumers may file a complaint at www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint or contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 800-441-2555 or scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
“COVID-related cancellations can’t be an excuse for businesses to just walk away with consumers’ money,” Shapiro said.
“I’ve been clear since the beginning of the pandemic — that sort of thing is just not acceptable. By filing this suit, we’re protecting consumers by ensuring they are not victims of a different kind of con.”
Shapiro’s suit requested the court to order the company to pay restitution to all people who had suffered losses as a result of the defendants’ conduct, be permanently enjoined from operating and/or selling tickets to conventions or other public events in Pennsylvania, and pay civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law and $3,000 for each violation involving a consumer age 60 or older.
Great Conventions’ Facebook page has not been updated since February 20, 2020, and still features a banner announcing “The Great Philadelphia Comic Con,” and their website is no longer operational.
