Manhattan Club Lawsuit

It appears you may all be going about this only so so at best. After reviewing several issues in regards to this operation, it appears this is a orchestrated approach to collecting funds for a service with no intentions of this service or product being made available after a short period of time. Everything that I have read appears to be a system (racketeering I am not a lawyer) that will extract funds from individuals, create an environment to where what you have purchased becomes impossible for the average consumer to use, then offer to buy it back at a ridiculous price and restart the cycle all over. From all the complaints, this product or service has been marketed in many different states. Under that analogy, it would appear to be a "federal" issue and not just a state issue ($75,000 in damages is required to be a federal civil case). This may not just be a civil case! If what I have mentioned proves to be true, which will have to be reviewed by a federal DA, then you may have a very good case. Reviews from owners appear to be pointing to a conspiracy theory in this matter (again I am not a lawyer). If you have a federal case breaking "any" federal laws and it just happens to meet the test to that fact, your civil case will be hands down. I also read in here or elsewhere that many parties who purchased, were sold an invest or lead to believe is was an investment. A return on monies invested if you purchase. Investments require a "securities license". If this is fact, selling securities without a license would fall under the criminal codes I would assume. That would not only put the developer in hot water, but all of the management staff as well. I have posted a case where the developer in a similar case had to pay an undisclosed amount of monies back to the owners. I can tell you one thing for sure, the more evidence you have and put in front of the common jury, the less likely these people will be able to dodge additional lawsuits after the first win. Contact ex employees, past management if there is any, any and all contractors that have performed work for the organization, anyone that has been involved with this operation. Keep digging, you may find a fox in the hen house. Cleaning up the timeshare business one project at a time. Time-sharing is a good thing, just dealing with the bad people in the business seems to be the problem. Good Luck! http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/members-36579-million-vacation.html

Found more info that may be of real interest. The understanding is what you have purchased is "deeded" real estate (floating or flex time)(you pay property taxes). Question is, does the board of directors/developer own any of these deeds? Which deeds are they holding (specific)? Are they manipulating the deeds that they hold to favor this so called rental program due to floating time to benefit the maximum interest for a profit for the developer? Who are the board members of your HOA and what is their connection to the developer if any? Are they all elected by proxy? These are very serious concerns in this matter. If the board or developer is manipulating the peak times (deeds) in their favor there is serious reason for concern. Any qualified attorney would be asking these questions, as well as hiring experts in the industry to review these findings. Cleaning up the timeshare business one project at a time. Time-sharing is a good thing, just dealing with the bad people in the business seems to be the problem.

Sign the Stop the Manhattan Club Timeshare Scam Petition to Governor Cuomo and politicians in New York State. Anyone can sign. Click on the link below.

http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-andrew-cuomo-to-return-money-scammed-by-the-manhattan-club-timeshare

To shut down the Manhattan Club and get our money back we have to let politicians know about this scam and fraud.

Need more signatures!! I would like to be involved in the class action lawsuit. As an owner is this automatic? Or do I need to contact the law firm representing the owners? Please advise.

Yes, we need more signatures. The class action suit will only offer relief to New York State TMC owners. The class action suit has already been filed.

Here is the petition link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/gov-andrew-cuomo-return-money-scammed-by-the-manhattan-club-timeshare

We have a database of every single legislator in New York, every New York City Councillor, the Mayor, the Governor and the Public Advocate of New York.

We have a petition circulating signed by people scammed by the Manhattan Club Timeshare fraud who want this fraud stopped.

Join this Change.org campaign: http://chn.ge/REH0a0 Sign the Petition!

Regards, Irene Smalls

Hi,

We are circulating a petition for Mayor Bill DiBlasio to stop the Manhattan Club Timeshare Scam. Once we get a 1,000 names it will be sent to the Mayor.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/mayor-diblasio-stop-the?source=c.em.mt&r_by=10286027

You folks need to find the right attorney in this case. If you add up all the monies up that have been extracted from people who supposedly own something at this place. It is a bigger heist than robbing a federal reserve bank. The more I research, the more I find that something here is not right. Petitions are probably not going to stop anything here, these people have a inside connection somewhere which allows them to continue the obvious. I would almost suspect that one of the owner(s) is an attorney working from the inside. You need to get this in court in front of a jury, but with a change of venue out of that particular area. You can obtain a complete list of owners from the register of deeds (if the deeds are real) at the court house where this location is registered. Yes it will require some time, but may be well worth it in the end.

Hi,

I agree with you. We need to get the Manhattan Club Timeshare scam into a court. We need a lawyer to represent the "Manhattan Club owners" who do not live in New York State. The Manhattan Club has some kind of political connection that keeps this scam going. Any suggestions on lawyers who would take on this case are appreciated. Do we need to raise money? Will a lawyer take the case on contingency? Any and all input appreciated.

Regards,

Irene Smalls

Irene, The Manhattan Club is wired in politically in New York. I do not believe an attorney would take this case on a contingency basis. My own lawyer got me out of my Manhattan Club ownership successfully a year ago. But she required 50 percent up front. That is quite standard. Butif she did not feel confident she could maneuver me out, she would not have represented me. She has gotten other owners out, but never represented the entire class of owners.

Hi,

If you do not want your attorney's name listed please email me privately. We can put together a list of lawyers to contact about filing a lawsuit benefiting all owners as a first step. The Manhattan Club Timeshare scam must be stopped.

Irene Smalls

You may want to start here:

http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/1898-rci-points-program-class-action-settlement/

Irene,

What is your e-mail address? I'd be happy to send you my lawyer's contact information. She prefers that is not be posted here. Thanks

Manhattan Club just terminated an outreach program to owners that was designed to give them new information about using their weeks and exchange options with RCI. They were in process of setting up one on one meetings with owners around NYC area, then abruptly cancelled scheduled meetings AND the entire program. Manhattan Club representatives told me today that the program was cancelled but provided no explanation about what is up. Just another signal of more confusion at this timeshare as the management deals with a tidal wave of negative press on forums such as these. Bottom line is that, regardless of the lawsuit, Manhattan Club owners are having an impact on the organization. We'll all find out over time whether that impact is good or bad.

Alex,

I just became a redweek member and saw this post. My husband and I were suckered into buying Manhattan Club 10 years and have watched our maintenance rise fro $500 to $1200 annually while never being able to get a reservation. We would love to default but don't want to wreck our credit rating. Can you tell me what became of your lawsuit? I'm sure it's too late to join, but I hope you got some satisfaction.

Regards, Lena

lena, don't hold your breath.

the so-called class action lawsuit is apparently a lost cause. has any owner (especially members of this forum) heard one word from any attorneys allegedly representing MC owners? i haven't; the question is rhetorical and the answer is that the lawsuit (if there is, in fact, one) will most likely turn out to be a lost cause just as the first one was. fyi, THE FIRST LAWSUIT WAS DISMISSED BY THE COURT and i believe the SAME ATTORNEYS are attempting a second suit.............hmmmm, three times a charm?

lenap3 wrote:

Alex,

I just became a redweek member and saw this post. My husband and I were suckered into buying Manhattan Club 10 years and have watched our maintenance rise fro $500 to $1200 annually while never being able to get a reservation. We would love to default but don't want to wreck our credit rating. Can you tell me what became of your lawsuit? I'm sure it's too late to join, but I hope you got some satisfaction.

Regards, Lena

Hello, please read my story on the lawsuit to get a full picture of activity in the lawsuit; it's in the "ask redweek" forum. The case is live and in the discovery phase with the next hearing set for September. Anyone who claims the case is a lost cause is opinionated but out of the loop. Two prior cases were thrown out of federal court, which is a different jurisdiction entirely than New York State court. The state court judge has already dismissed one motion by the Manhattan Club to derail the case, and they are now appealing that to a higher court. Bottom line is that the Manhattan Club will do anything to avoid litigating the merits of the case because they'd face a lineup of owner-witnesses who'd testify that they were duped into buying timeshares they could rarely if ever use. Can you imagine a jury siding with a big company that deliberately gouged customers? I can't, and neither can the Manhattan Club, which is why all of their efforts are aimed at getting the case thrown out of court prior to any trial. Just my opinion.

jeff, your opinion is respected and has merit. however, being somewhat pessimistic concerning the MC (an owner for about 11 years) i must stand by my comments expressed to lena above. i believe the same attorneys for owners who lost, through dismissal of the last suit, the class action we had against the MC in 2012. ok...........why haven't we seen one word from these attorneys in this forum...with updates on the progress of this current class action suit?

jeffw355 wrote:

Hello, please read my story on the lawsuit to get a full picture of activity in the lawsuit; it's in the "ask redweek" forum. The case is live and in the discovery phase with the next hearing set for September. Anyone who claims the case is a lost cause is opinionated but out of the loop. Two prior cases were thrown out of federal court, which is a different jurisdiction entirely than New York State court. The state court judge has already dismissed one motion by the Manhattan Club to derail the case, and they are now appealing that to a higher court. Bottom line is that the Manhattan Club will do anything to avoid litigating the merits of the case because they'd face a lineup of owner-witnesses who'd testify that they were duped into buying timeshares they could rarely if ever use. Can you imagine a jury siding with a big company that deliberately gouged customers? I can't, and neither can the Manhattan Club, which is why all of their efforts are aimed at getting the case thrown out of court prior to any trial. Just my opinion.

The lawsuit has been allowed to proceed by the New York Court. Despite the Manhattan Club lawyers trying to get the case dismissed. Now until September is the period of discovery. The lawsuit only covers "owners" in New York. Attorney Steven Blau has filed the suit.

A group of several hundred owners are contemplating hiring an attorney to file suit against the Manhattan Club in Federal Court. A federal legal action would cover all "owners". See the Manhattan Club is A Timeshare Scam Facebook page for details as we develop our plans.

Regards,

Irene Smalls

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for directing me to the very informative article. I also took the time to read the motions filed with the WebCivil Supreme Court. I see that the next court date is in September and I really hope that the judge sees the merits of the case, because there are so many of us "owners" (and I use the term loosely) that need to be rid of this albatross. Let the developer buy back our useless points and then rent them to his heart's delight.