Tahoe ski resort reverses parking policy that inspired two lawsuits
Free parking, as precious to some skiers as virgin mountain powder, has returned to one Lake Tahoe resort, but not before its corporate owner waged an expensive yearlong legal battle with two season pass holders.
Two men sued when Northstar California replaced traditional free parking with $20 daily fees ($40 weekends) — after they’d purchased their passes.
Unlike visitors who may spend a weekend skiing, locals like lawyer Steven Kroll, 80, and Robert Grossman will make a few quick runs in the morning, then jump in their cars to head for work.
Both never imagined the battle they’d face when they learned months after they’d renewed their passes for 2019-20 that it would cost them $2,000 for the season to park in the lot they’d used for free for years.
Grossman won a judgment in small-claims court for $692 plus $135 in costs.
Kroll got nothing after he was buried in opposition filings and agreed to dismiss his federal lawsuit for fear of being ordered to pay legal fees and expenses.
“Never pick a fight with a big bully,” said Kroll, of Crystal Bay.
In October 2019, Grossman called Northstar, which is owned by Vail Resorts, to see if it was true that the only free parking would be a mileplus away, accessible via a shuttle bus.
“They told me to go pound sand,” he recalled.
Vail Resorts said the fees helped ease traffic congestion and speed access to the slopes. The company declined to comment on the lawsuits.
Grossman won in smallclaims court because the pass said refunds were allowed for those who didn’t ski once all season. Vail Resorts appealed in Placer County court, but the district court upheld the judgment.
In his case, Kroll said Vail Resort’s lawyers made it clear during a court-ordered settlement call that they would do whatever necessary to delay a hearing. And the judge threatened Kroll with sanctions.
Kroll dropped his case. He and Grossman are skiing elsewhere.
Vail Resorts reinstated the free parking options because of “guest feedback” and COVID-19, spokesman Russell Carlton wrote in an email to the Associated Press.