Texas Venue Agrees to Refund $15.9K After Fiancé's Death Sparks Outrage
Posey Meadows drops counterclaim and agrees to full refund following public backlash over handling of a grieving bride-to-be's payment.
A Texas wedding venue has agreed to refund nearly $16,000 to a woman whose fiancé died suddenly seven months before their scheduled wedding, after the business initially refused the reimbursement and offered credit toward future events. The decision by Posey Meadows comes after a public outcry and legal dispute over the payment.
Diego Hernandez, 25, died unexpectedly in April, leaving his fiancée to cancel their November 20 wedding at the venue located outside San Marcos. The couple had paid $15,909.28 toward the event. When Hernandez's family contacted the venue to explain the situation and request a refund, they were met with resistance.
According to the family, the venue owner, Julie Campbell, suggested transferring the reservation to another date or applying the funds to a different type of event. The venue also indicated a potential partial refund if they secured a new booking for the original wedding date. These alternatives were met with distress by the grieving family.
Lucy Hernandez, Diego's mother, publicly condemned the venue's actions, questioning their "morals" and "moral principles." She told KSAT that the situation had become a "bitter legal battle," with the venue filing a counterclaim against the fiancée. The venue alleged that the fiancée had breached the contract by seeking a refund and refusing to pay the remaining balance, while the contract did not specifically address death as a reason for cancellation or refund. Posey Meadows also questioned the family's documentation of Hernandez's death.
The family stated they offered to provide a death certificate before litigation began but received no response. As negative publicity grew, Posey Meadows issued a statement asserting they had previously granted full refunds in similar tragic circumstances and were working towards a refund when the lawsuit was filed, claiming litigation complicated the process.
On Wednesday, an attorney for the fiancée confirmed receipt of the full refund. The venue's statement expressed condolences to Diego's family and stated their efforts were not meant to diminish the family's loss, regretting that the litigation process had complicated a hoped-for resolution.
