HARRISBURG – A civil lawsuit filed today against a Philadelphia restaurant and special event catering service seeks to permanently shut down the company for failure to provide the appropriate restaurant and event services as promised to customers.
Acting Attorney General Bill Ryan identified the defendants in the suit as Josephine Reed and her restaurant and special event business; Lakey’s Restaurant or “Lakey’s”, 8201-15 Stenton Ave., Philadelphia.
According to the lawsuit, Reed accepted customer deposits to secure the Lakey’s facility for special events such as birthday parties, retirement parties, bridal showers, and wedding receptions.
Ryan said that in February 2008, the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and inspections shut down Lakey’s for multiple Code Violations. Reed allegedly failed to refund any deposit money she took for the facility and continued to operate the business.
The lawsuit states that Reed failed to inform consumers that the business was no longer operable because of Code Violations and continued to take deposits
Ryan said the civil lawsuit filed against Reed and her business seeks the following:
- require Reed to provide refunds to consumers;
- permanently prohibit Reed from engaging in any conduct which violates the Consumer Protection Law;
- civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation of the Consumer Protection Law, and $3,000 for each violation involving a violation over 60 years old; and
- prohibit Reed and her business from operating in Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit was filed in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and will be handled by Deputy Attorney General Jacqueline M. D’Angelo of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.