New book by Larry Connors Click here Improve your trading - See how
Rob Peirce, whose Pittsburgh law firm of Bellissimo and Peirce has an office in Ellwood City, has filed suit against several discount hotel Web sites, including Travelocity, Expedia and Hotels.com for unpaid hotel tax revenue.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal district court in Pittsburgh.
Lawrence County has a hotel room tax of 3 percent. Except for a small fee that goes to the treasurer's office for collecting the tax, the county's tourist promotion agency receives hotel tax revenues.
County Commissioner Dan Vogler said the tax generates about $60,000 annually.
Peirce said most of the state's counties have a hotel tax, and nearly all of those jurisdictions could be invited to join the lawsuit if a federal judge approves a request to designate the court case as a class action.
The exception is Philadelphia County, which encompasses the city of Philadelphia. Peirce said Philadelphia would settle any disputes within its own court system.
Peirce said the travel Web sites have a practice of block-purchasing hotel rooms at a volume discount rate. The company pays all relevant taxes on the block purchases.
The Web sites then sell the hotel rooms for an amount higher than the block discounts, but lower than the standard rate. Peirce said the Web sites are liable for the hotel taxes on their profits for selling the rooms.
Vogler said he -- along with fellow Commissioners Steve Craig and Richard DeBlasio, county administrator Jim Gagliano, and solicitor Tom Leslie -- met with attorney Joe Bellissimo, one of Peirce's partners, earlier this year.
During that meeting, Vogler said Bellissimo requested permission to name Lawrence County in the lawsuit as an example of a county that is losing revenue from the nonpayment of hotel taxes, and county officials agreed.
To see more of Beaver County Times, Pa., or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesonline.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Beaver County Times, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index
About TradingMarkets | Contact | Advertise | Careers | Link to Us | Site Map | Help | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Testimonials | Feedback
The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.
It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.
HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.
The Connors Group, Inc.
10 Exchange Place, Suite 1800
Jersey City, NJ 07302
© Copyright 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.
