A judge ruled Monday that a couple can proceed with its claims against the owners of a Malibu mansion where a third party company allegedly pulled the plug on their scheduled 2024 wedding at a site at which they anticipated electrifying views, ample parking and space for numerous overnight guests.
Shane Foley and Leah Sanfilippo filed the suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against luxury property rental company Living the Dream and the various owners of the property on Piuma Road, including Joseph and Roxanne Golshan.
The couple’s allegations against the owners consist of include false advertising, violations of the Unfair Competition Law and the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act and negligence.
The defense sought dismissal of the causes of action on grounds they were vague and ambiguous or stated enough details to constitute a cause of action.
However, the judge concluded otherwise, overruling the motion on all allegations. She found, among other things, that the owners had a legal duty to the plaintiffs as the owners and managers of the property in addition to whatever obligations are owed the pair by Living the Dream.
The judge did, however, strike the couple’s request for prejudgment interest, costs and attorneys fees from the landlords.
According to the suit filed last Oct. 23, Foley and Sanfilippo were “deprived of the opportunity to look forward to one of the most important days of their lives and were instead left scrambling to ensure that they did not have to cancel their wedding entirely.”
The suit further states that the couple’s “dream wedding quickly turned into a nightmare.”
“Defendants’ actions have resulted in significant financial and emotional damage to plaintiffs as they were forced to incur substantial costs to make the necessary last-minute arrangements to ensure that their wedding could go ahead,” according to the suit, which describes the plaintiff’s demeanor upon learning of the cancellation as “distraught.”
LTD advertises the property on its website for $65,000 a month and a minimum of $3,000 per night while dubbing the mansion they leased from the property owners as a wedding and event venue, according to the suit.
When they inquired with LTD about using the property to host their wedding, a company representative responded, “We’re so excited to have the opportunity to host you at our gorgeous estate and welcome you to the Living The Dream family. We are specialized into making your event amazing and unforgettable.”
Convinced in part by the glamorous depictions of past weddings in the LTD brochure, the couple put down nearly $11,000 and signed an agreement in January 2024 to be married there eight months later, the suit states.
“Suffice to say, plaintiffs reasonably believed that they were entering into a contract that committed LTD defendants to hosting plaintiffs’ wedding event at the property,” the suit states.
“They sent out wedding invitations for friends and family, coordinated the necessary travel arrangements, booked vendors — including bartenders, caterers and a band — and relied on LTD’s representation that 20 guests could stay overnight at the property for three nights.”
But LTD notified the plaintiffs by email in July 2024 that they could not use the property after all due unforeseeable circumstances and that the company’s decision was made “in adherence to the latest legal requirements and regulations,” according to the suit.
Although LTD allegedly refused to give further why it would no longer allow the wedding to be held at the venue, Los Angeles County had sent the company cease-and-desist orders dating back to 2021 disallowing them from hosting events at the property, according to the suit, which further alleges the information undermines LTD’s claim of an unexpected turn of events.
Foley and Sanfilippo had to wait two weeks to get their deposit back, causing them further stress, and they have since learned on Yelp reviews that other couples who used LTD also were forced into late wedding cancellations, the suit states.
The property owners have filed an indemnification cross-complaint against Living the Dream.