Man Who Canceled Honeymoon over Ebola Fears Sues Travel Agency
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A geographically challenged newlywed — who canceled his $80,000 African safari honeymoon for fear of Ebola, even though he would be traveling thousands of miles away from the outbreak — is suing a Manhattan travel agency for a refund, according to a new lawsuit.
Matthew Goldstein and his new bride never took out travel insurance on the pricey trip, but they fault the travel agent.
The agent had never offered the insurance, explaining afterward that because the couple would be honeymooning, it would be “bad karma,” the Manhattan Supreme Court suit says.
Bond Street Travel Inc. CEO Richard Nigosian “knowingly and intentionally chose not to inform [Goldstein] of the availability of such insurance at a time when it would have been possible for [Goldstein]” to purchase it, the suit says.
Ebola never spread anywhere near the couple’s intended destination of Mozambique and South Africa, which are more than 3,000 miles from the outbreak in the western part of the continent.
In the suit, Goldstein, of Kips Bay, says Nigosian, who “portrays himself as providing ‘expert advice,’ ” booked his flights, lodging at luxury hotels, safari tours and other activities in March and April of last year, ahead of his August wedding.
Goldstein paid $41,300 up front and then in July, as Ebola deaths spiraled in West Africa, Goldstein asked about purchasing travel insurance, the suit says.
Nigosian told him it was too late, court papers claim.
The travel agent told Goldstein that he hadn’t initially offered the $4,000 insurance “because the trip was a honeymoon and it would be ‘bad karma,’ ” according to the suit.
Nigosian told The Post he may have told Goldstein, “If it’s a honeymoon, maybe it’s bad karma” to buy an insurance policy, but he said he doesn’t recall the exact conversation.
Nigosian said he’s confident the suit will be tossed, adding that a number of Goldstein’s friends, who recommended the agency, continue to employ him.
Goldstein was only able to get a credit from British Airways and had to swallow the rest of the costs of the canceled vacation, according to court papers.
Goldstein seeks to recoup $30,000, plus $50,000 in punitive damages.
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