Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.1 Page 1 of 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 LAW OFFICES OF RONALD A. MARRON, APLC RONALD A. MARRON (SBN 175650) ron@consumersadvocates.com MICHAEL T. HOUCHIN (SBN 305541) mike@consumersadvocates.com LILACH HALPERIN (SBN 323202) lilach@consumersadvocates.com 651 Arroyo Drive San Diego, California 92103 Telephone:(619) 696-9006 Facsimile: (619) 564-6665 Attorneys for Plaintiff and the Proposed Class 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA LISA KOUBALL, on behalf of herself, Case No.: '20CV0870 H and all others similarly situated, CLASS ACTION Plaintiff, v. COMPLAINT SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT, INC., BGS DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Defendant. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.2 Page 2 of 16 1 2 INTRODUCTION 1. Plaintiff Lisa Kouball (“Plaintiff”) brings this action on behalf of 3 herself and all others similarly situated against Defendant SeaWorld Parks & 4 Entertainment, Inc. (“SeaWorld” or “Defendant”). Plaintiff makes the following 5 allegations pursuant to the investigation of her counsel and based upon information 6 and belief, except as to the allegations specifically pertaining to herself, which are 7 based on personal knowledge: 8 9 JURISDICTION AND VENUE 2. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 10 1332(d)(2)(A) because this case is a class action where the aggregate claims of all 11 members of the proposed class are in excess of $5,000,000, exclusive of interest and 12 costs, and most members of the proposed nationwide class are citizens of states 13 different from the states of Defendant. 14 3. This Court has general jurisdiction over Defendant because it conducts 15 substantial business within California such that Defendant has significant, 16 continuous, and pervasive contacts with the State of California. 17 4. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391 because the 18 challenged fee practices have been committed in this District and because Plaintiff 19 resides and suffered the alleged harm in this District. 20 21 FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS 5. Defendant SeaWorld has made the unconscionable decision to keep 22 charging its thousands of customers monthly membership fees while closing its 23 amusement parks as the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, rages throughout the world 24 and the United States economy has gone into a deep recession. 25 26 6. Defendant is the operator of several amusement parks and water parks throughout the United States, operating in locations such as San Diego, California, 27 28 1 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.3 Page 3 of 16 1 Orlando, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas.1 Defendant offers annual passes to its 2 customers that allow them access Defendant’s amusement and water parks on an 3 unlimited basis.2 Defendant’s customers are charged a monthly fee for annual passes 4 that range from $10.00 per month to $17.75 per month.3 5 7. To sign up for Defendant’s annual membership program, customers 6 often provide Defendant with their credit card or debit card information. Defendant 7 then automatically charges its customers’ credit or debit cards as payments are due 8 on a monthly basis. 9 8. In approximately March of 2020, Defendant closed all of its amusement 10 parks and water parks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike most of its 11 competitors, Defendant continued charging its customers monthly membership 12 fees— at full price. Defendant is able to unilaterally charge its customers monthly 13 fees without their consent, as it is in possession of its members’ debit and credit card 14 information. Thus, Defendant has made the deliberate decision to bilk its customers 15 out of a monthly membership fee while its members do not have access to 16 Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks. The sole reason Defendant’s 17 customers pay monthly membership fees is to have access to Defendant’s 18 amusement parks and water parks. Now, Defendant is charging is customers full 19 price while denying customers access to its amusement parks and water parks. 20 9. Plaintiff seeks relief in this action individually, and on behalf of all of 21 Defendant’s customers nationwide that have paid or were charged fees while 22 Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks were closed for Defendant’s 23 violations of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”), Civil Code 24 25 1 https://seaworld.com/ (last visited May 8, 2020). 26 2 https://seaworld.com/san-diego/annual-pass/ (last visited May 8, 2020). 27 3 Id. 28 2 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.4 Page 4 of 16 1 §§1750, et seq., Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”), Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, et 2 seq., False Advertising Law (“FAL”), Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17500, et seq., for 3 breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and money had and received. 4 5 PARTIES 10. Plaintiff Lisa Kouball is a citizen of California, residing in San Diego 6 County, California. Ms. Kouball purchased a total of four annual passes to attend 7 Defendant’s amusement park located in San Diego, California, paying a total of 8 $48.99 per month on a month-to-month basis for the four annual membership 9 passes. In approximately March of 2020, Defendant closed its amusement parks and 10 water parks, including the SeaWorld amusement park in San Diego, California that 11 Plaintiff attended. However, on approximately April 23, 2020, Defendant charged 12 Plaintiff’s credit card in the full amount of her month-to-month memberships— 13 $48.99— even though Plaintiff does not have access to Defendant’s amusement 14 parks. Further, Defendant has not refunded Plaintiff any part of her monthly fee for 15 the time in which Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks have remained 16 closed. Plaintiff signed up for Defendant’s annual membership passes with the 17 belief and on the basis that he would have access to SeaWorld San Diego amusement 18 park at any time during the month in which she was charged. Plaintiff would not 19 have paid for the membership, or would not have paid for it on the same terms, had 20 she known that she would not have access to Defendant’s amusement park. Plaintiff 21 continues to face imminent harm, as Defendant continues charging its customers 22 monthly fees while all of its amusement parks and water parks remain closed. 23 11. Defendant SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. is a Delaware 24 corporation that maintains its principal place of business at 6240 Sea Harbor Drive, 25 Orlando, Florida 32821. Defendant is the operator of several amusement parks and 26 water parks nationwide, including the SeaWorld amusement park located in San 27 Diego, California. 28 3 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.5 Page 5 of 16 1 2 CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS 12. Plaintiff brings this action as a class action under Federal Rule of Civil 3 Procedure 23 on behalf of a Class consisting of all persons in the United States who 4 were charged annual membership fees for a period in which Defendant’s amusement 5 parks and water parks were closed. 6 13. Plaintiff also seeks to represent a subclass defined as all members of 7 the Class who are members of Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks located 8 in California. (the “California Subclass”). 9 14. Plaintiff reserves the right to amend or modify the Class definition with 10 greater specificity or further division into subclasses or limitation to particular issues 11 as discovery and the orders of this Court warrant. 12 15. Excluded from the Class are the Defendant, the officers and directors 13 of the Defendant at all relevant times, members of its immediate families and their 14 legal representatives, heirs, successors or assigns and any entity in which Defendant 15 has or had a controlling interest. 16 16. 17 represent. 18 17. Plaintiff is a member of the Class and California Subclass she seeks to Defendant has thousands of customers nationwide that have paid or 19 were charged fees while Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks were closed. 20 Accordingly, members of the Class are so numerous that their individual joinder 21 herein is impracticable. The precise number of Class members and their identities 22 are unknown to Plaintiff at this time but may be determined through discovery. 23 18. Common questions of law and fact exist as to all Class members and 24 predominate over questions affecting only individual Class members. Common legal 25 and factual questions include, but are not limited to whether Defendant has breached 26 its contract with its customers and whether its actions are fraudulent and unlawful. 27 28 4 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.6 Page 6 of 16 1 19. The claims of the named Plaintiff are typical of the claims of the Class 2 in that the named Plaintiff was exposed to Defendant’s false and misleading 3 advertising and was charged membership fees despite being barred from entry into 4 Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks, and suffered losses as a result. 5 20. Plaintiff is an adequate representative of the Class because Plaintiff’s 6 interests do not conflict with the interests of the Class members Plaintiff seek to 7 represent, Plaintiff has retained competent counsel experienced in prosecuting class 8 actions, and Plaintiff intends to prosecute this action vigorously. The interests of 9 Class members will be fairly and adequately protected by Plaintiff and her counsel. 10 21. The class mechanism is superior to other available means for the fair 11 and efficient adjudication of the claims of the Class members. Each individual Class 12 member may lack the resources to undergo the burden and expense of individual 13 prosecution of the complex and extensive litigation necessary to establish 14 Defendant’s liability. Individualized litigation increases the delay and expense to all 15 parties and multiplies the burden on the judicial system presented by the complex 16 legal and factual issues of this case. Individualized litigation also presents a potential 17 for inconsistent or contradictory judgments. In contrast, the class action device 18 presents far fewer management difficulties and provides the benefits of single 19 adjudication, economy of scale, and comprehensive supervision by a single court on 20 the issue of Defendant’s liability. Class treatment of the liability issues will ensure 21 that all claims and claimants are before this Court for consistent adjudication of the 22 liability issues. 23 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION 24 Violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act 25 Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1750, et seq. 26 27 22. Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference the allegations contained in all preceding paragraphs of this complaint. 28 5 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.7 Page 7 of 16 1 23. Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of members of the 2 proposed Class against Defendant. Plaintiff also brings this claim individually and 3 on behalf of members of the proposed California Subclass against Defendant. 4 24. Plaintiff and Class members are consumers who paid fees for use of 5 Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks for personal, family or household 6 purposes. Plaintiff and the Class are “consumers” as that term is defined by the 7 CLRA in Cal. Civ. Code § 1761(d). 8 9 10 11 25. Defendant’s amusement park and water park access that Plaintiff and Class members purchased from Defendant was a “service” within the meaning of Cal. Civ. Code § 1761(b). 26. Defendant’s actions, representations, and conduct have violated, and 12 continue to violate the CLRA, because they extend to transactions that intended to 13 result, or which have resulted in, the sale of services to consumers. 14 27. Defendant’s advertising that its amusement parks and water parks 15 would be available to its customers and that its customers would have access to its 16 amusement parks and water parks upon paying a membership fee is false and 17 misleading to a reasonable consumer, including Plaintiff, because Defendant in fact 18 closed all of its amusement parks and water parks while continuing to charge its 19 customers the full price of membership. 20 28. California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 21 1770(a)(5), prohibits “[r]epresenting that goods or services have sponsorship, 22 approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities which they do not 23 have or that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection 24 which he or she does not have.” By engaging in the conduct set forth herein, 25 Defendant violated and continue to violate Section 1770(a)(5) of the CLRA, because 26 Defendant’s conduct constitutes unfair methods of competition and unfair or 27 28 6 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.8 Page 8 of 16 1 fraudulent acts or practices, in that Defendant misrepresented the particular 2 characteristics, benefits and quantities of the services. 3 29. Cal. Civ. Code § 1770(a)(7) prohibits representing that goods or 4 services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular 5 style or model, if they are of another. By engaging in the conduct set forth herein, 6 Defendant violated and continues to violate Section 1770(a)(7) of the CLRA, 7 because Defendant’s conduct constitutes unfair methods of competition and unfair 8 or fraudulent acts or practices, in that Defendant misrepresents the particular 9 standard, quality or grade of the services. 10 30. Cal. Civ. Code § 1770(a)(9) further prohibits “[a]dvertising goods or 11 services with intent not to sell them as advertised.” By engaging in the conduct set 12 forth herein, Defendant violated and continues to violate Section 1770(a)(9), because 13 Defendant’s conduct constitutes unfair methods of competition and unfair or 14 fraudulent acts or practices, in that Defendant advertises services with the intent not 15 to sell the services as advertised. 16 31. Plaintiff and the Class acted reasonably when they purchased 17 Defendant’s amusement park and water park passes on the belief that Defendant’s 18 representations were true and lawful. 19 32. Plaintiff and the Class suffered injuries caused by Defendant because 20 (a) they would not have purchased or paid for Defendant’s amusement park and 21 water park memberships absent Defendant’s representations and omission of a 22 warning that it would continue charging customers’ credit cards and debit cards 23 while all of Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks nationwide are closed; 24 (b) they would not have purchased amusement park and water park memberships on 25 the same terms absent Defendant’s representations and omissions; (c) they paid a 26 price premium for Defendant’s amusement park and water park memberships based 27 on Defendant’s misrepresentations and omissions; and (d) Defendant’s amusement 28 7 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.9 Page 9 of 16 1 park and water park memberships did not have the characteristics, benefits, or 2 quantities as promised. 3 33. Under California Civil Code § 1780(a), Plaintiff and members of the 4 Class seek injunctive and equitable relief for Defendant’s violations of the CLRA. 5 Plaintiff will mail an appropriate demand letter consistent with California Civil Code 6 § 1782(a). If Defendant fails to take corrective action within 30 days of receipt of 7 the demand letter, Plaintiff will amend her complaint to include a request for 8 damages as permitted by Civil Code § 1782(d). 9 10 34. Wherefore, Plaintiff seeks injunctive and equitable relief for these violations of the CLRA. 11 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION 12 Violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law 13 Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200, et seq. 14 15 16 35. Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference the allegations contained in all preceding paragraphs of this complaint. 36. Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of 17 the proposed Class against Defendant. Plaintiff also brings this claim individually 18 and on behalf of members of the proposed California Subclass against Defendant. 19 37. Defendant is subject to California’s Unfair Competition Law, Cal. Bus. 20 & Prof. Code §§ 17200, et seq. The UCL provides, in pertinent part: “Unfair 21 competition shall mean and include unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices 22 and unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising ….” 23 38. Defendant’s advertising that its amusement parks and water parks 24 would be available to its customers, and that its customers would have access to its 25 amusement parks and water parks upon paying a membership fee is false and 26 misleading to a reasonable consumer, including Plaintiff, because Defendant in fact 27 28 8 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.10 Page 10 of 16 1 closed all of its amusement parks and water parks while continuing to charge its 2 customers the full price of amusement park and water park memberships. 3 39. Defendant’s business practices, described herein, violated the 4 “unlawful” prong of the UCL by violating the CLRA, the FAL, and other applicable 5 law as described herein. 6 40. Defendant’s business practices, described herein, violated the “unfair” 7 prong of the UCL in that its conduct is substantially injurious to consumers, offends 8 public policy, and is immoral, unethical, oppressive, and unscrupulous, as the gravity 9 of the conduct outweighs any alleged benefits. Defendant’s advertising and its 10 charging of membership fees while its amusement parks and water parks are closed 11 is of no benefit to consumers. 12 41. Defendant violated the fraudulent prong of the UCL by misleading 13 Plaintiff and the Class to believe that they would only be charged fees when they 14 would have access to Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks. 15 42. Plaintiff and the Class acted reasonably when they signed up for 16 memberships based on the belief that they would only be charged fees when 17 Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks were open and accessible. 18 43. Plaintiff and the Class lost money or property as a result of Defendant’s 19 UCL violations because (a) they would not have purchased or paid for Defendant’s 20 amusement park and water park memberships absent Defendant’s representations 21 and omission of a warning that it would continue charging customers’ credit cards 22 and debit cards while all amusement parks and water parks nationwide are closed; 23 (b) they would not have purchased amusement park and water park memberships on 24 the same terms absent Defendant’s representations and omissions; (c) they paid a 25 price premium for Defendant’s amusement park and water park membership based 26 on Defendant’s misrepresentations and omissions; and (d) Defendant’s amusement 27 28 9 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.11 Page 11 of 16 1 park and water park memberships did not have the characteristics, benefits, or 2 quantities as promised. 3 THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION 4 Violation of California’s False Advertising Law 5 Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17500, et seq. 6 7 8 44. Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference the allegations contained in all preceding paragraphs of this complaint. 45. Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of 9 the proposed Class against Defendant. Plaintiff also brings this claim individually 10 and on behalf of the members of the proposed California Subclass against 11 Defendant. 12 46. California’s False Advertising Law, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17500, 13 et seq., makes it “unlawful for any person to make or disseminate or cause to be 14 made or disseminated before the public in this state, ... in any advertising device ... 15 or in any other manner or means whatever, including over the Internet, any 16 statement, concerning ... personal property or services, professional or otherwise, or 17 performance or disposition thereof, which is untrue or misleading and which is 18 known, or which by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to be untrue 19 or misleading.” 20 47. Defendant engaged in a scheme of charging customers full monthly 21 membership fees while its amusement parks and water parks were closed. 22 Defendant’s advertising and marketing of its amusement parks and water parks as 23 being accessible during the membership fee period misrepresented and/or omitted 24 the true content and nature of Defendant’s services. Defendant knew that these 25 statements were unauthorized, inaccurate, and misleading. 26 27 48. Defendant’s advertising that its amusement parks and water parks would be available to its customers during the membership period, and that its 28 10 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.12 Page 12 of 16 1 customers would have access to its amusement parks and water parks upon paying 2 a membership fee is false and misleading to a reasonable consumer, including 3 Plaintiff, because Defendant in fact closed all of its amusement parks and water 4 parks while continuing to charge its customers the full price of amusement park and 5 water park membership. 6 49. Defendant violated § 17500, et seq. by misleading Plaintiff and the 7 Class to believe that they would be charged fees only when they have access to 8 Defendant’s amusement parks and water parks. 9 50. Defendant knew or should have known, through the exercise of 10 reasonable care that its advertising of its amusement parks and water parks as being 11 accessible during the membership period is false and misleading. Further, Defendant 12 knew or should have known that it was breaching its contracts with its customers 13 and fraudulently charging fees when it continued charging fees while all of its 14 amusement parks and water parks were closed. 15 51. Plaintiff and the Class lost money or property as a result of Defendant’s 16 FAL violation because (a) they would not have purchased or paid for Defendant’s 17 amusement park and water park memberships absent Defendant’s representations 18 and omission of a warning that it would continue charging customers’ credit cards 19 and debit cards while all amusement parks and water parks nationwide are closed; 20 (b) they would not have purchased amusement park and water park memberships on 21 the same terms absent Defendant’s representations and omissions; (c) they paid a 22 price premium for Defendant’s amusement park and water park membership based 23 on Defendant’s misrepresentations and omissions; and (d) Defendant’s amusement 24 park and water park memberships did not have the characteristics, benefits, or 25 quantities as promised. 26 27 28 11 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.13 Page 13 of 16 1 FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION 2 Breach of Contract 3 4 5 52. Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference the allegations contained in all preceding paragraphs of this complaint. 53. Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of 6 the proposed Class against Defendant. Plaintiff also brings this claim individually 7 and on behalf of the members of the proposed California Subclass against 8 Defendant. 9 54. Defendant entered into contracts with Plaintiff and Class members to 10 provide access to amusement parks and water parks in exchange for the payment of 11 membership fees. Defendant has breached these contracts by continuing to charge 12 Plaintiff and Class members’ debit and credit cards while its amusement parks and 13 water parks remain closed. Plaintiff and Class members have suffered an injury 14 through the payment of membership fees while not having access to Defendant’s 15 amusement parks and water parks. 16 FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION 17 Unjust Enrichment 18 19 20 55. Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference the allegations contained in all preceding paragraphs of this complaint. 56. Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of 21 the proposed Class against Defendant. Plaintiff also brings this claim individually 22 and on behalf of the members of the proposed California Subclass against 23 Defendant. 24 57. Plaintiff and members of the Class conferred benefits on Defendant by 25 paying, and being charged, membership fees while Defendant’s amusement parks 26 and water parks were and remain closed. 27 58. Defendant has knowledge of such benefits. 28 12 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.14 Page 14 of 16 1 59. Defendant has been unjustly enriched in retaining the revenues derived 2 from Plaintiff and Class members’ membership fees. Retention of those moneys 3 under these circumstances is unjust and inequitable because Defendant is charging 4 its customers full price while its amusement parks and water parks remain closed. 5 These misrepresentations and charges caused injuries to Plaintiff and members of 6 the Class because they would not have paid Defendant’s membership fees had the 7 true facts been known. 8 60. Because Defendant’s retention of the non-gratuitous benefits conferred 9 on it by Plaintiff and members of the Class is unjust and inequitable, Defendant must 10 pay restitution to Plaintiff and members of the Class for their unjust enrichment, as 11 ordered by the Court. 12 SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION 13 Money Had and Received 14 15 16 61. Plaintiff hereby incorporates by reference the allegations contained in all preceding paragraphs of this complaint. 62. Plaintiff brings this claim individually and on behalf of the members of 17 the proposed Class against Defendant. Plaintiff also brings this claim individually 18 and on behalf of the members of the proposed California Subclass against 19 Defendant. 20 63. Defendant received money in the form of membership fees that was 21 intended to be used for the benefit of Plaintiff and the Class, those membership fees 22 were not used for the benefit of Plaintiff and the Class, and Defendant has not given 23 back or refunded the wrongfully obtained money and membership fees to Plaintiff 24 and the Class. 25 26 64. Defendant obtained money in the form of membership fees that were intended to be used to provide amusement park and water park access to Plaintiff 27 28 13 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.15 Page 15 of 16 1 and the Class. However, Defendant has retained all of the membership fees while its 2 amusement parks and water parks remain closed. 3 4 5 PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, seeks judgment against Defendant, as follows: 6 a) For an order certifying the Class under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil 7 Procedure and naming Plaintiff as representative of the Class and Plaintiff’s 8 attorneys as Class Counsel to represent the Class members; 9 b) For an order certifying the California Subclass under Rule 23 of the Federal 10 Rules of Civil Procedure and naming Plaintiff as representative of the 11 California Subclass and Plaintiff’s attorneys as Class Counsel to represent 12 the California Subclass members; 13 14 15 16 17 18 c) For an order declaring that Defendant’s conduct violates the statutes and laws referenced herein; d) For an order finding in favor of Plaintiff, the Class, and the California Subclass, on all counts asserted herein; e) For compensatory and punitive damages in amounts to be determined by the Court and/or jury; 19 f) For prejudgment and postjudgment interest on all amounts awarded; 20 g) For an order of restitution and all other forms of equitable monetary relief; 21 h) For injunctive relief as pleaded or as the Court may deem proper; and 22 i) For an order awarding Plaintiff and the Class their reasonable attorneys’ fees 23 24 25 and expenses and costs of suit. DEMAND FOR TRIAL BY JURY Plaintiff demands a trial by jury of all issues so triable. 26 27 28 14 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.16 Page 16 of 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dated: May 8, 2020 /s/ Ronald A. Marron By: Ronald A. Marron LAW OFFICES OF RONALD A. MARRON, APLC RONALD A. MARRON MICHAEL T. HOUCHIN LILACH HALPERIN 651 Arroyo Drive San Diego, California 92103 Telephone: (619) 696-9006 Facsimile: (619) 564-6665 Attorneys for Plaintiff and the Proposed Class 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 15 Kouball v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT JS 44 (Rev. 06/17) Case 3:20-cv-00870-H-BGS Document 1-1 Filed 05/08/20 PageID.17 Page 1 of 1 CIVIL COVER SHEET The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.) I. (a) PLAINTIFFS LISA KOUBALL, on behalf of herself, and all others similarly situated, (b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff San Diego County, CA County of Residence of First Listed Defendant NOTE: (c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) u 1 U.S. Government Plaintiff u 3 Federal Question (U.S. Government Not a Party) u 2 U.S. Government Defendant X4 u Diversity (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff (For Diversity Cases Only) PTF Citizen of This State u X1 DEF u 1 Citizen of Another State u 2 u 2 Incorporated and Principal Place of Business In Another State u 5 X5 u Citizen or Subject of a Foreign Country u 3 u 3 Foreign Nation u 6 u 6 IV. NATURE OF SUIT (Place an “X” in One Box Only) u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u I u u u u u u REAL PROPERTY 210 Land Condemnation 220 Foreclosure 230 Rent Lease & Ejectment 240 Torts to Land 245 Tort Product Liability 290 All Other Real Property u u u u u u u PERSONAL INJURY 310 Airplane 315 Airplane Product Liability 320 Assault, Libel & Slander 330 Federal Employers’ Liability 340 Marine 345 Marine Product Liability 350 Motor Vehicle 355 Motor Vehicle Product Liability 360 Other Personal Injury 362 Personal Injury Medical Malpractice CIVIL RIGHTS 440 Other Civil Rights 441 Voting 442 Employment 443 Housing/ Accommodations 445 Amer. w/Disabilities Employment 446 Amer. w/Disabilities Other 448 Education and One Box for Defendant) PTF DEF Incorporated or Principal Place u 4 u 4 of Business In This State Click here for: Nature of Suit Code Descriptions. TORTS 110 Insurance 120 Marine 130 Miller Act 140 Negotiable Instrument 150 Recovery of Overpayment & Enforcement of Judgment 151 Medicare Act 152 Recovery of Defaulted Student Loans (Excludes Veterans) 153 Recovery of Overpayment of Veteran’s Benefits 160 Stockholders’ Suits 190 Other Contract 195 Contract Product Liability 196 Franchise Orange County, FL (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY) IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED. Attorneys (If Known) Law Offices of Ronald A. Marron, APLC 651 Arroyo Drive, San Diego, California 92103 (619) 696-9006 CONTRACT BGS SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) I '20CV0870 H DEFENDANTS FORFEITURE/PENALTY PERSONAL INJURY u 365 Personal Injury Product Liability u 367 Health Care/ Pharmaceutical Personal Injury Product Liability u 368 Asbestos Personal Injury Product Liability PERSONAL PROPERTY X 370 Other Fraud u u 371 Truth in Lending u 380 Other Personal Property Damage u 385 Property Damage Product Liability PRISONER PETITIONS Habeas Corpus: u 463 Alien Detainee u 510 Motions to Vacate Sentence u 530 General u 535 Death Penalty Other: u 540 Mandamus & Other u 550 Civil Rights u 555 Prison Condition u 560 Civil Detainee Conditions of Confinement u 625 Drug Related Seizure of Property 21 USC 881 u 690 Other LABOR u 710 Fair Labor Standards Act u 720 Labor/Management Relations u 740 Railway Labor Act u 751 Family and Medical Leave Act u 790 Other Labor Litigation u 791 Employee Retirement Income Security Act BANKRUPTCY u 422 Appeal 28 USC 158 u 423 Withdrawal 28 USC 157 PROPERTY RIGHTS u 820 Copyrights u 830 Patent u 835 Patent - Abbreviated New Drug Application u 840 Trademark SOCIAL SECURITY u 861 HIA (1395ff) u 862 Black Lung (923) u 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g)) u 864 SSID Title XVI u 865 RSI (405(g)) FEDERAL TAX SUITS u 870 Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff or Defendant) u 871 IRS—Third Party 26 USC 7609 IMMIGRATION u 462 Naturalization Application u 465 Other Immigration Actions OTHER STATUTES u 375 False Claims Act u 376 Qui Tam (31 USC 3729(a)) u 400 State Reapportionment u 410 Antitrust u 430 Banks and Banking u 450 Commerce u 460 Deportation u 470 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations u 480 Consumer Credit u 490 Cable/Sat TV u 850 Securities/Commodities/ Exchange u 890 Other Statutory Actions u 891 Agricultural Acts u 893 Environmental Matters u 895 Freedom of Information Act u 896 Arbitration u 899 Administrative Procedure Act/Review or Appeal of Agency Decision u 950 Constitutionality of State Statutes V. ORIGIN (Place an “X” in One Box Only) u1 X Original Proceeding u 2 Removed from State Court u 3 Remanded from Appellate Court u 4 Reinstated or Reopened u 5 Transferred from Another District u 6 Multidistrict Litigation Transfer (specify) Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity): u 8 Multidistrict Litigation Direct File Class Action Fairness Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2)(A) VI. CAUSE OF ACTION Brief description of cause: Violations of Consumer Protection Laws u VII. REQUESTED IN X CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION UNDER RULE 23, F.R.Cv.P. COMPLAINT: VIII. RELATED CASE(S) (See instructions): IF ANY JUDGE DATE DEMAND $ $5,000,000.00 CHECK YES only if demanded in complaint: u Yes u No JURY DEMAND: X DOCKET NUMBER SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD /s/ Ronald A. Marron 05/08/2020 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY RECEIPT # AMOUNT APPLYING IFP JUDGE MAG. JUDGE I