KomradeEli
Plinker
If you follow Lehto's Law on youtube you probably saw this.
TL;DR: They lose his luggage and after he wins, they appeal and find a loophole to not pay what is truly owed.
Guy gets to a San Fran Mariott and his room isnt ready. He has them hold his bags so he can go explore while he waits. They give him a claim check.
Rando walks in and claims to have lost his check and wants his bags. So without even checking his ID or getting his name, an employee walks him back and lets him pick out 4 bags.
Guy gets back and presents his check and of course, his bags are gone.
He sues in small claims for $8k because thats what everything was worth.
He gets a judgement for the max of $5k
Here is where it gets unbelieveable:
Mariott appeals and references an obscure state law from the 1870s that limits liability to $250 per bag. Judge finds for Mariott and reverses the first decision.
He writes a lengthy letter explaining why. Says his hands are tied and he would give him it all if he could. So he gets creative and gives the guy interest on the money to soften the blow at least. (still only $1500 or so)
Now Mariott is rightfully catching hell because they have zero common sense and created a massive PR blunder by stiffing the guy when it was obviously their fault.
Wow this is crazy. At least the judge tried. I’ve been in a similar situation with a Marriot stay where my bags were checked. Thank goodness nothing happened to me! Worth considering in the future though.