StubHub issues refund to Portland theater patron in the midst of class action lawsuit

Portland resident Amy Hoffman recently received a full refund from StubHub following her class action lawsuit against the ticket reselling platform, which was brought to light by a report from WW. Hoffman’s ordeal began on October 30 when she discovered that the tickets she had purchased to see Wicked at Keller Auditorium had already been used by other attendees. Despite being assured of a refund, Hoffman faced challenges in reclaiming her $446.79 when both her credit card company and the Oregon Department of Justice were unable to secure it. She was forced to repurchase tickets to attend the show.

After WW’s article was published, Hoffman’s attorney, Michael Fuller, revealed that a prominent lawyer from the East Coast contacted him. This occurred before StubHub had been formally notified of the lawsuit. The East Coast lawyer tried to attribute Hoffman’s situation to a singular oversight but hinted that StubHub’s system might label fraud claims as fraudulent themselves, implying that Hoffman’s complaint of receiving fake tickets might have been classified as false, contrary to being a mere mistake.

While Hoffman received her refund in time for her birthday, the class action lawsuit is ongoing. Fuller has indicated that even though StubHub’s attorney suggested that interest and legal fees might be reimbursed, he demands that the platform issue a sworn statement confirming that there are no other Oregon customers awaiting fraud refunds. This process could vary from several days to several months, and a bill proposed by Rep. Pam Marsh to regulate ticket reselling in Oregon is awaiting review in Salem.

Expressing gratitude towards Fuller and his team for their assistance, Hoffman acknowledged WW’s role in facilitating her refund. She mentioned that her cousin is still monitoring the tickets she bought for Book of Mormon on StubHub. Hoffman hopes that her experience will encourage others to advocate for themselves when faced with similar challenges. She emphasized the importance of conducting thorough research before purchasing tickets and not hesitating to voice concerns. According to Hoffman, her legal team acted as her “guardian angels” throughout the ordeal, providing support that she believes enabled her to achieve a favorable outcome.