Cuomo
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo plans to sue a Brooklyn-based tour bus service for allegedly charging consumers for services that were never provided and for failing to provide refunds after the company closed.
Cuomo's office notified Crosby Tours, Inc., and its principals - Reed Elson, Frank P. Scarpinito and Monika Bialokur - of its intention to sue. Cuomo is seeking full restitution for victimized consumers as well as penalties and costs to the state.
The lawsuit is being jointly pursued with the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, which is also seeking penalties and costs to the city.
"This tour bus company booked trips, took money, and then shut down without delivering on its promises," Cuomo said. "When customers reached out for help to the company, they were left without answers, and so today we are taking legal action."
The joint investigation revealed that advance payments were accepted by Crosby from consumers for future tour bus services, which the company then failed to provide, Cuomo said.
Crosby shut down in November 2009 without providing consumers with refunds for trips that never took place, Cuomo said.
Following the investigation's conclusion in March, Crosby's principals sent victimized consumers refund checks, though many consumers have not been paid refunds yet, Cuomo said.