The Price of a Party
A restaurant owner sues for payment after a lavish, booze-soaked banquet for the Pasco Land Company.
Sigurd Freiman, the restaurant keeper, who organized the banquet for the Pasco Land Company, has just put in an amended complaint and an itemized bill. He claims there were 82 guests, and among them, they consumed a staggering assortment of edibles and drinkables, totaling $1,425.60. The menu included 10 bottles of sherry, 28 bottles of Sauterne, 35 bottles of Zinfandel, 106 quart bottles of champagne, 36 pint bottles of champagne, and 450 imported cigars.
“62 covers at $7.50 each... 106 quart bottles champagne $530.00... 450 imported cigars $112.50.”
Long before the modern era of corporate event catering, banquet bills were settled in court with the same litigious energy we see in today's contract disputes. It is a striking reminder that the 'booming' growth of Pacific Northwest land companies was often fueled by extravagant networking and high-end consumption.
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