Attorney General sues Wheeling travel agency

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit Thursday against a Wheeling tour company, saying the firm canceled trips but didn't refund its customers.

Madigan's suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that Cosper & Cosper Group Tours and its owners, William and Gayle Cosper, have accepted nearly $24,000 from vacation planners for scheduling guided tours throughout the country. The suit claims the couple repeatedly failed to pay refunds to consumers when those tours were canceled.

William Cosper, reached at his office on Thursday, denied Madigan's claims.

"We're working on the refunds, no one is going to lose their money," he said. "We've been in business for a long time, 30 years. We have every intent of paying people back, every penny."

William Cosper said his company occasionally canceled tours, but added that he is trying to get those deposits back to his customers.

"Like everyone else, we've been hit by the economy," he said. "It's a no-win situation, we're trying to do it as quickly as we can. Some people have already gotten their refunds."

Cosper isn't sure how much money in refunds he owes or to how many customers.

Madigan's office has received 35 complaints from Cosper's customers since 2005, said Natalie Bauer, Madigan's deputy press secretary.

In one instance 14 Illinois residents contracted with the Cospers for a four-day trip to the Smoky Mountains in October 2008. They paid the Cospers between $630 and $1,518 each for deluxe motor coach transportation, accommodations, meals, guided tours, a Dollywood Entertainment and Music Park pass and trip cancellation insurance, according to Madigan's complaint.

Five days before the trip the Cospers canceled the trip and didn't pay refunds, according to the complaint.

Madigan's suit asks the court to enter a permanent injunction barring the defendants from doing business in Illinois.

The lawsuit also asks the court to order the defendants to pay restitution for consumers who have lost money as a result of travel plans that the company canceled, civil penalties of $50,000 for violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and an additional $50,000 for each violation committed with the intent to defraud.

The Cospers have 30 days to answer in court.