Former Passholders Ask Court for Class Action Certification Against Killington

[thetrailboss]

The suit between former "Lifetime Passholders" and Killington continues...the four plaintiffs have asked the Judge for certification as a class so that they can represent the other 1,239 members of the class. They claim that the resort was wrong in cancelling their passes.

The article.

 

[deadheadskier]

Hope they win.

 

[riverc0il]

I still have yet to see an argument that indicates these folks are entitled to continued Lifetime Passholders given way the sale of the resort was handled. This one is getting filed under "groundless law suits against the industry that drive prices up" IMO.

 

[deadheadskier]

The only real way to tell is how the pass was marketed in the first place. If it was a lifetime pass to what was it then, Ski LTD, then I side with Powdr. If it was a lifetime pass to 'Killington Ski Resort' then I side with the pass holders.

There really is no precedent that I can think of that matches this. The closest thing would be golf courses. In this day in age the iniation fees for premier golf courses is a larger sum than the yearly dues over the course of many many years. Golf Courses change hands all the time, but when a new owner arrives, members don't need to re-up the huge initiation.

I know one thing is for certain, if I owned one of those passes, I would be certain when I bought it that ownership transfers were covered very clearly. Haven't read enough to know if that was the case or not.

 

[Breeze]

Interesting to watch this train wreck in process.

Breeze

 

[hiroto]

The only real way to tell is how the pass was marketed in the first place. If it was a lifetime pass to what was it then, Ski LTD, then I side with Powdr. If it was a lifetime pass to 'Killington Ski Resort' then I side with the pass holders.

There really is no precedent that I can think of that matches this. ...

But isn't Killington itself the precedent? ASC bought Killington from Ski LTD and from the fact those people are complaining NOW implies that ASC did honor those passes when they bought Killington.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Boo..leave Killington alone..

 

[thetrailboss]

But isn't Killington itself the precedent? ASC bought Killington from Ski LTD and from the fact those people are complaining NOW implies that ASC did honor those passes when they bought Killington.

ASC bought S-K-I's stock and its liabilities, including the Lifetime Passholders. When ASC sold Killington, Ltd. to SP Lands, they did it in an asset sale so that SP Lands did not have the liability.

 

[ckofer]

However this works out legally, it seems that the new owners could have found a compromise that wasn't such a source of negative public relations.

 

[bvibert]

I still have yet to see an argument that indicates these folks are entitled to continued Lifetime Passholders given way the sale of the resort was handled. This one is getting filed under "groundless law suits against the industry that drive prices up" IMO.

I don't know the exact details, but this is the way it seems to me too.

 

[dmc]

They don't stand a chance... It's pathetic at this point...

 

[ski_resort_observer]

The lifetime passes, my father-in-law bought two back in 1962 for $1000 each, were issued by the Shelburne Corp long before Ski Ltd or ASC existed. After the couple who sued Powdr 6 months ago and lost miserably Powdr has threatned to countersue to recoup legal costs. The Vermont Attorney General wants no part of this sham.

Powdr is offering to honor the passes for two seasons.

 

[ckofer]

I could do my own research, but (a) in which years were these passes available? & (b) were they transferable?

 

[drjeff]

However this works out legally, it seems that the new owners could have found a compromise that wasn't such a source of negative public relations.

If anything this past year or so, it seems that Powdr DOESN'T have any problem with negative publicity

- no more lifetime passes
- delayed opening
- no hiking before opening
- not running Skyeship Base or Pico most midweeks
- early closing
- No BYOB for Bear Mtn Mogul Challenge

.....and probably a couple of others that I'm forgetting off the top of my head

 

[skiadikt]

If anything this past year or so, it seems that Powdr DOESN'T have any problem with negative publicity

- no more lifetime passes
- delayed opening
- no hiking before opening
- not running Skyeship Base or Pico most midweeks
- early closing
- No BYOB for Bear Mtn Mogul Challenge

.....and probably a couple of others that I'm forgetting off the top of my head

you can add:

-no discount tickets for ski clubs
-outrageously high prices for the kiddie programs

they've essentially killed off the bmmc. it was the biggest dud i ever saw. in the old daze (even last year), the place was like woodstock.

i agree the suit is a waste of everyone's time but these guys are absolutely clueless and have done themselves no favors. there isn't one ski board i get on where the general vibe isn't anti-powdr. these guys have pretty much trashed whatever there was worthwhile of the k brand. nevertheless it's been a great season despite all the crap but then almost 300" will do that.

 

[thetrailboss]

I have not heard one good thing about Killington this season.

 

[danny p]

I have not heard one good thing about Killington this season.

ONE REALLY GOOD THING THIS YEAR: NO CROWDS.

 

[skiadikt]

ONE REALLY GOOD THING THIS YEAR: NO CROWDS.

definitely the best thing but for all the wrong reasons.

 

[2knees]

I have not heard one good thing about Killington this season.

And as skiadikt mentioned, this in a banner snow year. Can you imagine the backlash if it had been a crappy snow year?

 

[drjeff]

And as skiadikt mentioned, this in a banner snow year. Can you imagine the backlash if it had been a crappy snow year?

To some extent I bet that a few of the Powdr folks running Killington wish that it was a crappy snow year. Then they wouldn't have had the delayed opening flack and/or the "early" closing flack and they could have stuck with their original April 13th shut the place down plans.