Peter C. Harvey, Attorney General

Division of Consumer Affairs
Reni Erdos, Director

For Immediate Release:
May 18, 2004

For Further Information Contact:
Genene Morris, Jeff Lamm
973-504-6327

TRENTON - Attorney General Peter C. Harvey has filed suit against a Pennsylvania man who allegedly scalped tickets to a benefit concert featuring New Jersey rock stars Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, charging consumers as much $1,550 above the tickets' face value. The Attorney General announced the suit today with Consumer Affairs Director Reni Erdos.

The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Monmouth County against Chris Lipton of Levittown, Pa., stems from Lipton's resale of tickets to the Hope Concert, a charity event for the benefit of Robert Bandiera, Jr., son of guitarist Bobby Bandiera, who plays with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. The concert was held on April 29, 2003, at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.

The suit alleges that on at least two occasions, Lipton, a licensed ticket broker who operates Palmyra-based A Good Time Tickets, Inc., resold tickets to the Hope Concert for amounts that far exceeded the state-allowed mark-up. For example, Lipton allegedly sold two tickets to an undercover Consumer Affairs investigator for $1,850 each, or $1,550 more than each ticket's $300 face value. On another occasion, Lipton allegedly sold a consumer two tickets for $1,500 each, or $1,200 above each ticket's face value. State law prohibits ticket brokers from reselling tickets for admission to a place of entertainment in New Jersey at a premium in excess of 50 percent of the price paid to acquire the tickets, plus lawful taxes.

"Our suit alleges Mr. Lipton exploited a charitable event and deprived consumers of the opportunity to purchase tickets at lawful prices," Attorney General Harvey said. "We will take aggressive action against anyone who illegally takes advantage of a charitable event for selfish gain."

"Although the Hope Concert was charitable in nature, Mr. Lipton's alleged activities were far from altruistic," Director Erdos said. "His alleged activities must not go unpunished."

The State's suit seeks to have Lipton pay restitution, penalties and costs for his alleged violations of the State's anti-ticket scalping laws.

Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Koziar of the Division of Law is handling this case for the State.

In addition to overinflating ticket prices, the suit also accuses Lipton of failing to disclose his cancellation policy and service charges; failing to stamp each ticket with his state-issued license number; failing to provide a receipt for the sale of tickets; and failing to cooperate with the State's investigation. The suit also accuses Lipton and A Good Time Tickets of violating a September 1993 Consent Judgment which required them to comply with the State's anti-ticket scalping laws and to pay $7,500 in restitution, penalties and costs.

Anyone who has a complaint against A Good Time Tickets or any other ticket broker may contact Consumer Affairs' Regulated Business Section at 973-504-6370. Consumers can also file complaints online at www.njconsumeraffairs.com/ocp/ocpform.htm