Three Alleged Price Gougers Pay To Resolve State Lawsuits Following Superstorm Sandy

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has settled price gouging lawsuits against two hotels, one of which is in Galloway, and a gas station to resolve lawsuits that alleged these companies engaged in hundreds of incidents of unlawful price gouging in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

The State says two hotels, The Berkeley Hotel of Asbury Park and Studio Inn & Suites of Galloway, and a gas station have agreed to pay nearly $90,000 to resolve lawsuits. In a press release, Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said, “These hotels allegedly raised their room rates by well over 100 percent of their normal prices, and this gas station increased its prices in excess of 25 percent – all at a time when a natural disaster turned the normal laws of supply and demand upside down."

The State says the company that operates the Studio Inn & Suites on the White Horse PIke in Galloway will pay $25,000. The State claims between October 27 and November 13, 2012, the hotel raised its room rates by as much as 283 percent above the prices charged for the same rooms prior to the state of emergency.