If you stayed at the Langham Huntington during the wildfire emergency, you may be owed a refund — and the hotel, not you, is on the hook to find you.
What Happened?
The operator of The Langham Huntington, Pasadena — the five-star hotel near Los Angeles — has agreed to pay $320,000 and refund overcharged guests to resolve allegations that it price-gouged customers during the January 2025 wildfire emergency. The settlement was announced by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles County Counsel's Office, which brought the civil consumer-protection case.Prosecutors allege that the hotel, operated by Langham Hotels Pacific Corporation, raised room rates more than 10% above its regular rates around January 7, 2025 — as the state of emergency was declared for the Eaton and Palisades wildfires — in violation of California's anti-price-gouging law, Penal Code section 396. The hotel cooperated with the investigation and did not admit wrongdoing; the settlement resolves the allegations without an admission of liability.
Who Gets a Refund
Under the settlement, guests who stayed at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena between January 7, 2025 and March 29, 2026 are owed refunds for any amount they paid above the maximum rate allowed during the emergency. The DA's office has said the hotel must pay at least about $216,795 in refunds, a figure that covers roughly the first months of the window; the total could be higher across the full period.Importantly, there is no claim form to fill out. The hotel is required to locate and directly refund eligible guests. Any refunds that cannot be delivered after reasonable attempts must be turned over to the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. Guests who believe they were overcharged and have questions can contact that county agency.
Why This Matters
California's price-gouging law caps most price increases at 10% during and after a declared emergency, including for hotel lodging. The law is meant to protect people who are displaced or seeking shelter — exactly the situation many faced during the Eaton and Palisades fires. Enforcement actions like this one are how counties put teeth behind that cap.As part of the deal, Langham also agreed to modify its pricing systems, including any automated or algorithmic pricing, to prevent unlawful increases during future declared emergencies. Similar consumer-protection scrutiny has followed other emergencies; OpenClassActions previously covered the Amazon COVID-19 price-gouging litigation over pandemic-era pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file a claim to get a Langham refund?
No. There is no consumer claim form. Under the settlement, the hotel is required to locate and directly refund eligible guests who were overcharged. Refunds that cannot be delivered after reasonable attempts go to the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
Who is eligible for a refund?
Guests who stayed at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena between January 7, 2025 and March 29, 2026 and were charged more than the maximum rate allowed under California's price-gouging law are owed refunds of the overcharged amount.
What did the hotel allegedly do?
Prosecutors allege the hotel raised room rates more than 10% above its regular rates around January 7, 2025, during the state of emergency declared for the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, in violation of California Penal Code section 396. The hotel cooperated with the investigation and did not admit wrongdoing.
Sources
• ABC7 Los Angeles — "Owner of Pasadena's Langham hotel to pay $320K for allegedly price gouging 2025 January wildfire victims"• Los Angeles Magazine — "Langham Pasadena to Pay $320K in Wildfire Price Gouging Case"
• Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office — settlement announcement
• LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
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