Howard Johnson Call Recording Class Action Settlement

Howard Johnson International Inc. has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it illegally recorded telephone calls without the consent of the caller. If you are a California resident who made at least one telephone call to Howard Johnson’s toll-free reservation number, spoke to a call center agent, and did not consent to your conversation being recorded, you may be entitled to a payment from the class action settlement.

In 2012, plaintiff Loren Stone filed the class action lawsuit against Howard Johnson and its parent company, Wyndham Hotel Group LLC, alleging that they did not provide notice at the beginning of phone calls made to Howard Johnson’s toll-free reservation line that the calls may be recorded.

According to the call recording class action lawsuit, Stone placed a telephone call to Howard Johnson’s toll-free reservations number, but was never notified that the call may be recorded. This failure to disclose that the call may be recorded violated California’s Privacy Act, Stone alleged.

Howard Johnson and Wyndham deny any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the call recording class action lawsuit to avoid the expense and uncertainty of ongoing litigation.

UPDATE: On Feb. 6, 2016, Top Class Actions readers started receiving Howard Johnson call recording settlement checks worth as much as $1037.63. Congratulations to our viewers who submitted a valid claim form and got PAID!

Who’s Eligible

California residents who, while physically present in California, made at least one telephone call to Howard Johnson’s toll-free reservations number between Feb. 28, 2011 and March 23, 2012, and who spoke to a call center agent and did not consent to the telephone conversation being recorded.

Potential Award

The Howard Johnson call recording settlement funds will be distributed on a pro rata basis to all eligible Class Members who submit timely and valid Claim Forms. No Class Member will receive a payout greater than $5,000, according to settlement documents. If all eligible Class Members file claims for the call recording class action settlement, it is estimated that they will receive a payment of $139.43.

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

9/5/2015

Case Name

Loren Stone v. Howard Johnson International Inc., Case No. 12-cv-01684, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Final Hearing

11/30/2015

Settlement Website

www.CaliforniaHotelRecordingSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Stone v. HJI Claims Administrator
c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC
P.O. Box 808061
Petaluma, CA 94975-8061
1-888-288-2774

Class Counsel

KIESEL LAW LLP

LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH M. LIPTON

Defense Counsel

FOLEY & LARDNER LLP