"That'll be $187, sir."

Joshua Thompson is a movie fanatic.  Regularly, he makes the trek to the AMC theater in Livonia, Michigan, to watch the latest Hollywood blockbuster and scarf down a few thousand calories in snack food.  To save money, Thompson brought in snacks from outside of the theater, until his local movie palace made a chance in policy, banning outside snacks.  Thompson’s solution wasn’t to just sneak in his own food, like a normal person would; Joshua Thompson has decided to sue AMC Theaters for price gouging; he recently filed the lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court.

“He called me and said, ‘Can they do that?’ ” said Kerry Morgan, Thompson’s attorney.  Morgan’s first reaction?  “Sure, they can do that, it’s private property.”

Then, Morgan started to do some digging and came across the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, which is a piece of legislation aimed at combating price gouging.  Movie theaters who ban outside snacks have a captive, hungry audience ready (if not exactly willing) to drop $15 for a massive tub of bacon popcorn, and they charge accordingly.  It doesn’t matter if you can get a garbage bag of M&Ms at Costco for $5; movie theaters have you over a barrel and, as such, it could be interpreted as a price gouge.

“We’re going to test the legal boundaries of that state law,” admitted Morgan, who is aware that some already-regulated businesses are exempt from price gouging legislation, which may include movie theaters.

Still, you can’t fault them for trying.  I am well aware that movie theaters need snack sales to pad their bottom lines, but it’s getting a little ridiculous.  A small drink and a small popcorn shouldn’t cost more than the actual ticket to the movie!

Tags: Joshua Thompson, Livonia, Michigan, Kerry Morgan, Wayne County, Wayne County Circuit Court, man sues movie theater over snack prices, movie theater snack prices, unusual court cases, unusual lawsuits, Michigan Consumer Protection Act, price gouging, man sues movie theater over prices, snack price lawsuit, movie theater snack lawsuit

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