In a striking legal move, a class action lawsuit has been filed against a California hotel for allegedly deceiving customers with hidden fees. Aran Darling, the plaintiff, filed the complaint on September 22, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, targeting Capri Laguna Hotel and Geovest Corporation dba ACP Management.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating several California laws by engaging in deceptive pricing practices. According to the complaint, despite the enactment of California’s “Honest Pricing Law” on July 1, 2024, which mandates full price transparency including all mandatory fees in advertised prices, Capri Laguna Hotel continued to advertise room rates that excluded an additional $40 per night “resort fee.” This fee was only disclosed at checkout under a “taxes and fees” section that required active expansion to view. The plaintiff argues this practice constitutes illegal “drip pricing,” misleading consumers into believing they were paying less than they actually were.
Aran Darling recounts his own experience as evidence of this alleged deception. After booking a room through Capri’s website and selecting dates for his stay, he was presented with room options at prices excluding the resort fee. Only upon finalizing his reservation did he discover over $90 in undisclosed fees added to his bill. Darling claims these practices not only violate the Honest Pricing Law but also California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act and False Advertising Law.
The lawsuit seeks multiple forms of relief from the court: an injunction preventing further deceptive advertising by Capri Laguna Hotel; disgorgement of all monies wrongfully obtained through these practices; restitution damages; punitive damages; and coverage of attorney fees and costs. The plaintiff emphasizes that such measures are necessary to protect consumers from ongoing predatory pricing schemes.
Representing Aran Darling are attorneys Paul K. Haines from Haines Law Group APC and Jack Day along with Calvin Bryne from Day Bryne & McIntosh. The case is presided over by Judge E.K. Bieker under Case No.: 2O2SCLUIBTO51327.
Source: 2025CUBT051327_Aran_Darling_v_Capri_Laguna_Complaint_County_of_Ventura_California.pdf
