Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous
Connecticut and Illinois have joined five other states in a lawsuit against TV personality Robin Leach and two promotion companies, claiming that they misled consumers about vacation packages.
Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan alleges that the defendants violated the state’s Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Illinois Real Estate Time-Share Act by not clearly disclosing the cost of advertised vacations.
The Connecticut suit seeks unspecified damages and alleges that the parties misled consumers into believing they had won a dream vacation. Named in the suit are National Travel Services, Inc., and Plaza Resorts, Inc., both of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, along with their owners James H. Verillo and Daniel Lambert.
Leach, former host of the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, was charged because he endorsed the alleged scams through the use of his name and photograph. “Leach used his public persona to deceive consumers,” says Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
According to the suits, consumers received travel certificates featuring Leach’s picture and the message: “Robin Leach says: Pack Your Bags.” But the certificates never said that consumers would be required to attend lengthy pitch meetings while on vacation and pay sizable expenses and “port fees” to the promoters. The Connecticut suit alleges that an advertised bonus Bahama cruise turned out to be a one-day ferry ride and a game of “Las Vegas- style” bingo.
Other states suing include Ohio, North Carolina, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Leach could not be reached at his New Canaan, CT, home for comment. Neither travel company returned phone calls.
