SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A San Diego photographer who has been accused by quite a few ladies of not subsequent by way of with their contracts now faces far more authorized problems.
Considering the fact that Team 10 very first began reporting on Lexie Cruz in 2021, far more ladies have occur forward declaring Cruz violated the conditions of their contract. In addition, Cruz is also tangled in authorized problems with her landlord.
Ree claimed she hired Cruz right after the photographer contacted her through a Facebook group in 2021.
“She gave me a good offer,” said Ree, who only preferred to use her first name for privacy issues. “I began paying her, generating payments and hired her.”
The deal she had with Cruz and her enterprise, LL Media, confirmed an arrangement of $750 for eight hrs. Ree said she really should have gotten a flash generate with images and movies, as very well as shots no later than 60 days right after her October marriage. That did not take place, according to Ree.
Ree claimed Cruz gave her excuse immediately after justification, from the wi-fi wasn’t functioning and she was not carried out enhancing the pics.
Ree threatened authorized motion and finally been given about a single-3rd of her photographs.
For the initially time, the videographer that Cruz labored with is also sharing her story publicly.
Lauren Martin was the videographer for various weddings, including Ree’s. Martin experienced no concept various women of all ages were being expressing their contracts were getting damaged due to the fact she reported she “was getting explained to finish other matters the complete time” from Cruz.
Martin stated she observed out that individuals were being not obtaining pictures or videos when a bride arrived at out to her in the fall of 2022. “[She] reported that she didn’t acquire her shots or movies,” Martin explained. “I was told that she was sent anything presently.”
Martin and Cruz no extended do organization jointly. In the meantime, Martin has been in touch with several brides to give them the video clips she has.
“I sent 11 flash drives in the last two months for folks. I gave an individual a refund that was supposed to have their wedding day in 2024 out of my very own pocket,” Martin explained.
The issues encompassing Cruz lengthen beyond her previous customers and co-employees. Janet Kleine mentioned Cruz was a tenant living on her house. Kleine reported she was a “reasonably decent tenant until finally she started out bringing her family and they ended up squatting in my condominium and producing troubles and threats.”
Janet mentioned Lexie’s lease ended on Dec. 31, but she did not transfer out. As an alternative, Kleine claimed Cruz filed a restraining get against her.
Kleine also filed a person in opposition to Cruz and numerous household members.
All through a courtroom physical appearance on the restraining buy at the stop of February, Cruz did not seem. Staff 10 spoke to Kleine pursuing the quick hearing.
“It’s nerve-wracking, and it can be costing me a lot of occasions costing me a great deal of money,” Kleine reported.
Though the concerns with Cruz as a tenant are unrelated to her images enterprise, Kleine’s attorney explained it is pertinent “in that it exhibits a sample of harassment by this personal,” in accordance to attorney Alicia Freeze.
“It also goes to her believability, which is unquestionably applicable,” Freeze claimed.
Makes an attempt to access Cruz by e-mail and cellular phone have been unsuccessful.
Her business enterprise license for LL Media is however energetic in California.
In a video clip clarification posted to YouTube in 2021, Cruz presented an rationalization to some preceding clientele.
Indeed, there is been cancellations. There’s been no deposit back, and I take obligation for the points that I have carried out,” she explained. “But I also just cannot say that I’ve accomplished a large amount of the stuff that individuals are generating me out to be.”
Even nevertheless Cruz in no way responded to Workforce 10, Ree said Cruz sent her all the photographs from her wedding day within 90 minutes of Staff 10’s email to Cruz.
An legal professional not affiliated with the situation gave some guidance to individuals having issues with their contracts. “I’d convey to a person who felt like there was a breach in their contract that they should doc almost everything,” claimed Valerie Garcia Hong, who is not affiliated with this situation.
Garcia Hong mentioned the pandemic and a lack of experience-to-experience conferences amplified contract problems.
For the reason that of the deficiency of actually meeting with the suppliers that we hire, we find troubles like this,” Garcia Hong explained. “I think the finding out lesson from it is that you genuinely need to have to vet that vendor and get as a great deal information you can about their track record in advance of you enter into a deal with them.”
Klein stated Cruz at last moved out in early March, but that she even now owes her hire revenue.
For Ree, she’s glad she last but not least bought almost everything she paid out for, but it arrived with a charge.
“Don’t let this come about to you. It’s a lesson I shouldn’t have acquired on a day like that,” Ree mentioned.
