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Vendors say they lost money and profits due to changes to Capulet Festival – NBC Connecticut

Even after the uproar at the Capulet Festival last weekend, fans and sellers continue to come forward.

Dwayne Thomas, owner of Snap Shots Unlimited, plans to sue Capulet's promoter in small claims court to recover lost costs, including a $700 vendor fee.

“With our normal shows, like a tattoo show or something like that, we usually bring in between $4,000 and $5,000,” Thomas said.

Dan Blinn, senior attorney at the Consumer Law Group, believes both fans and retailers have a good chance of getting their money back after the festival abruptly changed venues and canceled a day.

Blinn even believes that providers could charge money for the expected profits.

“These damages may also include lost profits if they can prove in court what those profits would have been,” Blinn said.

Capulet and its owner Estevan Vega have come under criticism after moving the three-day outdoor music festival from Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park to the Webster Theater in Hartford.

Vega also canceled the third and final day. Attorney General William Tong announced Tuesday that he had launched an investigation after receiving 60 complaints from fans.

NBC Connecticut called a number listed for Vega on Wednesday but was unable to reach him. Employees at his Colchester hair salon said he was not speaking.

Thomas said he recently purchased a trailer to transport his business – which makes T-shirts, drinking mugs and other items for customers – to events.

“I just built this brand new trailer for sale, this would be a great opportunity to get outdoors,” Thomas said.

Aside from the $700 vendor fee, Thomas spent hundreds of dollars on materials for the event. He can still sell the items at future events, but said he purchased merchandise he believes is best suited to rock concerts.

On Thursday, however, he learned that the event had been moved to the much smaller Webster Theater and that he would be performing outside the theater.

He came to the conclusion that it was not worth going there as a salesman.

Blinn believes that both sellers and fans are entitled to a refund because Vega has made “fundamental and significant changes.”

“People had signed up for an outdoor event in one city and then it was moved to a much smaller, indoor venue 100 miles away,” he said.

However, he expressed doubts about Tong's ability to seek compensation for customers seeking refunds.

“A judgment is only as valid as the defendant against whom the judgment was entered,” Blinn said. “If he doesn't have the money, you won't get the money.”

He recommended that customers who paid by credit card contact the company to get their money back. Federal law provides protection for customers who dispute a charge within 60 days of the charge appearing on a bill.

The same protection does not apply to customers who use debit cards, which is equivalent to writing checks.

Blinn recommended that his customers use credit cards whenever possible for all future purchases, such as tickets to events or services, to protect themselves.

Anna Harden

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