PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said Monday that his office had reached an agreement with the owners of Pearl Bridal, Erica and Tyson Miltenbergers, a year after the Phoenix bridal store abruptly closed leaving brides-to-be locked out and without their dresses.
In a news release, Brnovich said his office reached a consent judgment with the owners and that those affected by the bridal shop's closure would be able to receive up to $90,000 in restitution.
As part of the agreement, which still has to be approved by the court, the owners agreed to pay up to $250,000 in civil penalties, get rid of their remaining wedding dresses, and "are banned from being involved in any apparel-related business in Arizona in the future," the release said.
ABC15 reported on the bridal shop's closure in May 2018. In September of that year, Brnovich announced that his office had filed a civil lawsuit against the shop.
In that lawsuit, Brnovich alleged the owners "used false advertising and deceptive practices to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in prepayments for wedding dresses, and then abruptly shut down the business, leaving most of those orders unfulfilled."
According to the Attorney General's office, during its investigation, it found that the Miltenbergers had $275,000 in orders when the shop closed. The AG's office said some customers received refunds through their bank or credit card, and that some orders were later fulfilled, but $90,000 in orders remains not refunded or completed.
Brnovich's office will contact those who are owed money "shortly," the release said. People can also contact the office's consumer division at (602) 542-5763 (Phoenix) and (520) 628-6648 (Tucson).
