A man has filed a lawsuit against online hunting club and information site HunterzHub, claiming the subscription-based company refused to honor their commitment to pay him for a $45,000 hunting trip to Tajikistan they said he had won through a drawing for members of their elite membership tier.
The lawsuit was filed initially in September in San Joaquin County Superior Court, but was removed to federal court on Nov. 9 .
In the lawsuit, Maxwell Copello says the company persuaded consumers to participate in an "illegal lottery" through an "elite membership" which required payment of $150 annual dues. Raffles were held each month, according to the lawsuit.
"After paying his dues for two and a half years, Plaintiff won defendant's raffle, entitling him to a hunting trip worth over $45,000," the suit states.
The company notified Copello in an email that he was a winner and also announced the win on social media, the suit says.
But the company allegedly reneged on the prize with no explanation, Copella claims. HunterzHub allegedly violated California business fraud and false advertising laws, among others, the lawsuit states.
He seeks money damages of more than $25,000, plus attorney fees.
Copella is represented by attorneys Amit Rana and Alec Rishwain, of Venable LLP, of San Francisco.
Copello v. HunterzHub, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 2:23-at-01147