An investigation into two Phoenix-area restaurants, Etta Scottsdale and Maple & Ash Scottsdale, has resulted in a settlement agreement with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
The settlement resolves the Attorney General’s lawsuit stemming form the investigation into the two restaurants’ lack of disclosure concerning add-on charges. The settlement prohibits the companies from charging fees not disclosed on the menu and also secures $20,000 in civil penalties for Arizona.
In May of 2022, the Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation into the two Phoenix-area restaurants for including an undisclosed 3.5% Employee Benefits charge to customers when paying for their meal. Prior to the investigation, the charge had not been disclosed on the menus in either restaurant. As a result, many walk-in consumers did not have notice of the additional charge until they received their final bill.