Attorney General's News Release

July 15, 2004

Nixon sues travel agent who sold Cancun tours for Soldan High class of '74 reunion, but didn't provide trips

St. Louis, Mo. — Dozens of members of the Soldan High School class of 1974 who paid more than $27,000 to a St. Louis travel agent to arrange a class reunion trip to Cancun, Mexico, received neither trips nor refunds of the money they paid. Attorney General Jay Nixon has sued travel agent Tina Marie Flenoy in order to obtain restitution for more than 30 class members, and on Wednesday (July 14) obtained a temporary restraining order prohibiting her from operating as a travel agent.

The temporary restraining order was issued by the St. Louis County Circuit Court, where Nixon filed his lawsuit against Flenoy. Flenoy does business as RMT Travel & Cruises.

"Class members were looking forward to seeing old friends at an exciting travel destination," Nixon says. "Unfortunately, the only thing they got for their money was disappointment. Even if the reunion in Cancun can't take place, we are working to get them refunds for what they paid."

Nixon says the class reunion committee signed an agreement with Flenoy in January 2004 to provide travel plans for the trip to Cancun. The committee advised class members to send Flenoy a $300 deposit to secure a reservation; some class members paid in full for the trip in advance. Committee members found out in late April that Flenoy had not made reservations for the trip. Flenoy advised one of the coordinators of the reunion that Flenoy was canceling the trip. To date, Flenoy has provided 10 refunds and owes approximately $22,580 to other class members.

Nixon is asking the court to issue preliminary and permanent injunctions that require Flenoy to pay full restitution to the consumers who lost money, as well as any appropriate penalties to be paid to the state. He also is seeking a court order permanently banning Flenoy from owning, managing or operating a travel planning and reservation business.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818