A wedding services provider who filed for bankruptcy protection faced the scorn of angry brides and grooms in the federal courthouse Tuesday in a hearing for creditors of ZSR Event Productions.
Zachary Rice, the owner of ZSR, took hundreds, even thousands of dollars from couples planning their weddings and then declared bankruptcy.
Leticia Campa paid ZSR $3,500 for her wedding in February. “We trusted him,” Campa said. “He seemed like a reputable person.”
She and fiance Brandon Solis paid in full for tables, linens, lighting and a DJ two months before ZSR shut down.
“He (Rice) knew,” Campa said. “He knew that he was taking people’s money and then didn’t have to provide the services.”
Others at the hearing had little hope of getting any money back. Joe Pena just wanted to make sure the court had the right information.
He said court records did not reflect that he had paid more than just the $300 deposit to ZSR for his wedding.
“I definitely know they didn’t have it right,” Pena said. “I have my paperwork. I brought it with me to show my number is what I paid, $1,100. Not to be listed as $300.”
Andred Andalcio wante to make sure Zach Rice was exposed. “It looks like he might be having something to hide so we want to make sure that everything comes out and that he’s held responsible,” Andalcio said.
While creditors gathered on the front steps, Rice slipped out the back entrance of the courthouse according to his attorney for his own safety.
Adam Cortez also said this is not a criminal case. He said it is about bad business decisions.
Cortez said Rice just got in over his head. “It’s a businessman who overextended himself,” Cortez said. “He gets a new lease, he invests in some merchandise, he doesn’t have the income to service the new debt.”
Some ZSR merchandise is still locked up behind a now vacant ZSR office.
The next meeting of creditors in the ZSR Event Productions case is scheduled for Aug. 27.
For a list of recent stories Brian Mylar has done, click here.