AG: Dirty Girl runners to get refunds

CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has announced that Eventbrite is going to refund money to people who purchased tickets for Saturday's canceled Dirty Girl Mud Run event.

Eventbrite made the agreement Friday with the attorney general and will send electronic notifications of its intent to provide full refunds to race participants who paid registration fees through its website by July 28, will all refunds initiated in the coming days.

Despite reports that another entity was providing refunds to participants, only Eventbrite is confirmed to be providing registrants refunds as this time.

"Eventbrite was a third-party contractor serving the organizers of the race and had nothing to do with the decision to cancel the race," Morrisey said. "Notwithstanding, the company desires to provide full refunds to those participants that paid registration fees through the Eventbrite.com website."

100 LLC contracted with Eventbrite to provide "tickets" and receipts to participants who paid between $65 and $95 to take part in the obstacle course.

When the Charleston run was cancelled on July 23, 100 LLC announced it would not provide refunds to the approximately 2,700 people who had registered for the race.

Within 24 hours of that announcement, more than 250 people filed complaints with the Attorney General's Office alleging the no-refund policy violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.

"Upon learning of 100 LLC’s statement that it would not refund the paid registration fees, Eventbrite found the outcome unsatisfactory for the Eventbrite registrants," Morrisey said. "Based upon the unusual circumstances of the cancellation, Eventbrite has decided to provide refunds in the amount of the registration fees to the Eventbrite registrants."

Morrisey said Eventbright wants to work cooperatively with the Attorney General's Office to facilitate the refunds and ensure all appropriate participants are fully refunded their race registration fees

Morrisey said the agreement between the Attorney General’s Office and Eventbrite does not preclude or prohibit either party from seeking additional legal remedies from 100 LLC, Human Movement or other entities that may bear liability for damages to participants, consumers and others arising out of the cancellation of the 2014 Charleston Dirty Girl Mud Run.

"Our Office is pleased that we were able to reach this agreement with Eventbrite, and we look forward to working with them to facilitate these refunds for race participants," Morrisey said. "Eventbrite has been cooperative throughout this process, and they share our desire that participants are treated fairly."