A bar in San Francisco is facing legal trouble for allegedly deceiving its customers with hidden fees. On February 18, 2025, Alexander Xue filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, against A-N SFD Owner, L.L.C., accusing the company of unfair business practices at its establishment, "Starlite."
According to the lawsuit, on September 13, 2024, Xue visited Starlite and ordered drinks based on the prices listed on the menu. However, upon reviewing his receipt later, he discovered an unexpected "Service Charge" of $7.60 added to his bill without prior notice or consent. This charge amounted to 20% of his pre-tax subtotal of $38.00. Xue claims that this fee was not disclosed anywhere on the menu or during his visit.
The complaint highlights several violations by A-N SFD Owner under California law. It accuses the defendant of engaging in unlawful practices by failing to disclose mandatory surcharges and deceptively advertising prices that do not reflect these additional fees. The plaintiff argues that such actions constitute unfair competition as per Business and Professions Code §§ 17200 et seq., false advertising under §§ 17500 et seq., and violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) as outlined in Civil Code §§ 1750 et seq.
Xue's lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to prevent A-N SFD Owner from continuing these practices and demands refunds for all customers who were charged undisclosed fees. Additionally, he requests compensation for legal costs incurred during the suit.
The case has been assigned Case Number CGC-25-622507 at the Superior Court of California in San Francisco County. As Xue is representing himself pro se, there are no attorneys listed for him or for A-N SFD Owner at this time.