MINNEAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) – A Duluth husband and wife are suing a security services company over claims it overcharges its customers.
Robert and Cheryl Larson, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit Nov. 23 in Dakota County District Court against Per Mar Security & Research, doing business as Per Mar Security Services, alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraudulent, unlawful and deceptive trade practices.
The suit states Per Mar offers services including undercover employee investigations, interview and interrogation services, traffic control and crowd management for events, video surveillance, and security monitoring for residential homes. The plaintiffs claim Per Mar engages in deceptive and unlawful business practices by overcharging its customers for security services.
The Larsons, specifically, had been paying approximately $23 per month in residential security fees with Arrowhead Security Co.. After Per Mar purchased Arrowhead, the Larsons were paying approximately $70 per month for the same service, according to the suit.
In April, at an Arrowhead Builders Show in Duluth, Robert Larson stopped at the Great Lakes Alarm booth and inquired about their monthly fees. A representative told him they charged approximately $28 per month for the same coverage Larson received from Per Mar for approximately $77 per month.
Shortly after, Larson contacted Per Mar to inquire about this price difference. Per Mar admitted it had made a mistake and overcharged Larson, claiming a "computer glitch," according to the suit.
Per Mar then sent Larson a check for approximately $4,700, and a $15 Starbucks gift card, but the plaintiffs believe they are entitled to additional damages and injunctive relief.
The Larsons and others in the class seek damages of more than $5 million, together with interests, costs and attorney fees. They are represented by attorneys Jeffrey M. Montpetit of Sieben Carey in Minneapolis and Jon A. Tostrud of Tostrud Law Group in Los Angeles.
The defendant removed the case Nov. 23 to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota because the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interests and costs, and because the case is between citizens of different states.
Dakota County District Court Case number 15-CV-04195-DWF-LIB