A national class action lawsuit has been filed against Safe Harbor Marinas, LLC and SHM Charleston Boatyard, LLC, accusing them of deceptive corporate practices that allegedly inflated customer invoices through unauthorized charges. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina Charleston Division, represents Miami Charter Yacht, LLC and affected customers nationwide, claiming the defendants engaged in 'bait-and-switch' conduct to add improper charges to final bills.
Cristina Pierson, a Partner at Kelley | Uustal, stated the lawsuit challenges Safe Harbor Marinas' pattern of inflating invoices with charges unrelated to performed work, exacerbated by a policy requiring full payment before vessels can leave the marina. Safe Harbor Marinas, operating 138 marinas across approximately 24 states, is accused of systematically implementing these practices nationwide.
The plaintiff, Miami Charter Yacht, LLC, experienced these practices firsthand when their 76-foot San Lorenzo yacht, 'Vasiliki', required repairs at Safe Harbor's Charleston facility, resulting in a final bill inflated by unauthorized surcharges and fees. The lawsuit includes claims for breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment, and violation of South Carolina's Unfair Trade Practices Act, seeking damages, restitution, and injunctive relief for the proposed class.
