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NEWARK
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
staff today began distributing wedding photos
and videos to customers of a defunct Morris
County photography company that closed in
January and left customers with their contracted-for
keepsakes.
On
November 5, the State Superior Court, Chancery
Division, ordered the photographers and
videographers who had worked with Celebration
Studios to turn over their merchandise to
the Division of Consumer Affairs and ordered
the Division to commence distribution of
the materials.
The
return of the long-sought items culminates
a process that began shortly after Celebration
Studios closed its doors in January. The
Division of Consumer Affairs filed suit
against Celebration Studios and obtained
court permission to seize and impound all
items in the company’s warehouse.
Consumer Affairs staff then sorted and catalogued
approximately 4,000 items. Company records
were scrutinized and the contracts, receipts
and bills submitted by approximately 1,400
consumers were reviewed as part of the process
to unite customers with their items.
“It’s
a joyous day, perhaps almost as joyous as
the wedding day these couples experienced,
as we begin returning their keepsakes to
them,” said David Szuchman, Consumer
Affairs Director. “The sheer volume
of materials made this a major undertaking,
but for our staff, it was a labor of love
because we know these photos and videos
are cherished keepsakes.”
Szuchman
reminded Celebration Studios customers that
they must file complaints with Consumer
Affairs in order to arrange for the return
of their merchandise. Customers who have
filed complaints will be individually scheduled
for appointments to pick up their photos
and videos.
In
addition to Saturdays, Celebration Studios
customers are being scheduled to come to
Consumer Affairs headquarters in Newark
on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings
to pick up their merchandise.
Consumers
can file complaints on the Division's web
site at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
or calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll-free within N.J.) or 973-504-6200.
Deputy
Attorney General Lorraine K. Rak, Chief
of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section,
and Deputy Attorney General Alina Wells
represented the state in this matter. Chief
of Investigations Joseph Palaia led the
investigative effort.
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