Wash. Superior Court Orders Expedia To Pay $185M

NEW YORK (AP) — Expedia Inc. said Monday it plans to appeal a Washington state Superior Court summary judgment ordering the online travel agency to pay $184.5 million in damages for breaching its contract with consumers.

The plaintiffs alleged Expedia charged service fees under false pretenses in violation of its "Terms of Use" agreement with consumers. The lawsuit was filed in 2005 on behalf of Expedia customers by a Seattle law firm and applies to transactions on Expedia.com from Feb. 2003 through Dec. 2006.

In the summary judgment ruling last week, King County Superior Court judge Monica J. Benton agreed with the plaintiffs that Expedia charged service fees to add to its profit, as well as to defray its costs. ...