Athletes Launch Mont-Tremblant Ironman Class Action Lawsuit Over Refund Refusals

Since the COVID-19 global pandemic hit Canada, Canadians- determined to make their voices heard- have sounded the alarm on large corporations’ adamant refusals to refund consumers for flights and events that were cancelled due to coronavirus.

On Sept. 11, a class action lawsuit Canada was launched against Ironman Canada Inc. and the World Triathlon Corporation over allegations that they unjustly refused to refund Canadians who registered for this year’s Ironman events.

If you registered and paid to participate in the IRONMAN 5i50 and Sprint Mont-Tremblant 2020, the IRONMAN 70.3 Mont-Tremblant 2020 and the IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant 2020 Triathlon, which have been cancelled or postponed, and have not been refunded, your voice has been heard!

Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN class action lawsuit Launched

The Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN class action lawsuit Canada claims that the “attitude of the defendants shows that they are more concerned with their income than with the rights of their clients, who are already going through a stressful period as a result of the pandemic.”

According to Mont-Tremblant’s website, the IRONMAN triathlon events have more than 7,400 participants. This means, highlights the class action, that it is likely that the defendants generated revenues “of several million dollars” by withholding the fees paid by Class Members, “without justification or legal basis.”

Although many industries such as the insurance and airline industries justify their refund refusals due to the extreme financial burden it would place on their survival, the Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN class action lawsuit argues that the defendants had and still have the means and assets to reimburse Class Members.

The Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN class action lawsuit alleges that the defendants are therefore “illegally holding the money of the Class Members hostage.”

Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN Triathlon Refund Refusals Amid COVID-19

Joanne Picard, the lead plaintiff in the Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN class action lawsuit, registered for the IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant triathlon on Aug. 21, 2019, scheduled for Aug. 23, 2020. She paid the requisite hefty fee of $900.21.

On April 10, 2020, the Government of Quebec requested the cancellation of festivals and public sporting events until Aug. 31, 2020. This meant that the IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant triathlon was effectively cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Upon learning about the event’s cancellation, Joanne contacted the IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant team to find out whether she could be reimbursed the registration fee. Rather than refunding the $900-some, the plaintiffs offered her a free transfer to one of the other IRONMAN events to be held in the U.S. later in 2020, or an automatic postponement of its registration for the IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant Triathlon to be held on Aug. 22, 2021.

Joanne argues that had she known that “the defendants would illegally withhold her money in this manner if the Event were postponed or cancelled,” she would not have registered for the Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN triathlon. She additionally alleges that she suffered significant financial loss and stress as a result of the refund refusals.

The Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN class action lawsuit is seeking the full reimbursement of class members’ registration fee as well as punitive damages, among other damages.

Canadians File Several COVID-19 Refund Class Action Lawsuits

Back in May, Canada’s major airlines were hit with a major class action lawsuit, targeting Air Transat, Air Canada and their subsidiaries. Echoing the numerous Canadian class action lawsuits launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline class action lawsuit took issue with Air Transat’s and Air Canada’s refusal to refund travellers for flights cancelled due to COVID-19.

In light of the COVID-19 travel restrictions, Air Transat and Air Canada cancelled most flights scheduled throughout April. Instead of refunding passengers, as per the usual policy, the Canadian airlines named in the class action lawsuit offered passengers airline vouchers, which passengers deemed unfair and illegal.

The Royal Bank of Canada is also facing a class action lawsuit over the bank’s refusal to refund card holders’ Rewards points used to purchase flight tickets that were cancelled due to COVID-19.

When Canadian provinces put an end to festivals, concerts and other gatherings, StubHub Canada Ltd. and StubHub Inc. faced a class action lawsuit due to refund refusals for cancelled events. The company refused to issue refunds to Canadians who purchased tickets for events that were cancelled, or will likely be cancelled, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Have you paid for an event that was cancelled due to COVID-19? Were you refunded for the cancellation? Do you think it’s fair to refuse refunds during COVID-19? Share your story with us in the comments below! 

Joanne and Class Members are represented by Lambert Avocat Inc.

The Mont-Tremblant IRONMAN Class Action Lawsuit is Joanne Picard v. Ironman Canada Inc. et World Triathlon Corporation, Case No. 500-06-001093-208, in the Superior Court of Québec, District of Montreal.

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