West Michigan Caterer Prohibited From Working in State After Attorney General Reaches Agreement

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has reached an agreement with a wedding caterer following allegations of unlawful business practices, according to a press release from the Michigan Department of Attorney General dated April 6, 2026.

The agreement resolves claims against Alicia Thompson, owner of Late to the Lake LLC, who operated out of Spring Lake in Ottawa County on West Michigan's west side. Thompson has been prohibited from providing catering services in Michigan for five years.

A wedding is one of the most meaningful days of a person's life, and couples should be able to trust that their chosen vendor will deliver what they promised or at the very least refund them when something goes wrong, said Attorney General Nessel.

The Department of Attorney General said it received more than 40 complaints about Late to the Lake, alleging violations of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act.

Pattern of Complaints

The complaints alleged a pattern of last-minute cancellations of wedding services and a failure to provide refunds to affected consumers.

In one case, a customer reported paying more than $6,000 for wedding catering that was later canceled without a refund. Another customer said they were pressured to pay in full to secure a promotional price, only to have the company cancel on the day of the rehearsal dinner.

Additional complaints included:

• Unexpected charges after cancellations
• Bills exceeding agreed-upon amounts
• Poor service quality
• Unauthorized fees
• Incomplete food delivery when services were provided

Terms of Agreement

Under the agreement reached via Judge Rosemarie Aquilina in 30th Circuit Court in Ingham County, Thompson must:

• Be prohibited from providing catering services in Michigan for five years
• Refund all customers who filed complaints with the Department of Attorney General by May 1
• Issue all refunds by July 1

Consumers who believe they are owed a refund are encouraged to contact the Department of Attorney General at 517-335-7599, Nessel said. To be eligible, complaints must be filed by May 1.

Thompson will also face a 50% penalty on the total amount owed to any consumer if she does not pay back refunds in full.

Background on Thompson

Thompson is a resident of Spring Lake, Michigan, in Ottawa County. Her business partners with several other businesses across multiple counties in West Michigan, according to the company's website.

The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance and Discontinuance allows the offender to avoid litigation without admitting they violated the law.

Consumers Can File Complaints

Anyone who believes they were impacted by Late to the Lake can file a complaint with the Department of Attorney General by May 1, 2026.

Consumers will need proof that the respondent charged them more than the agreed-upon amount before canceling on them and failed to provide a refund.

Sources:

• Michigan Attorney General press release: https://www.michigan.gov/ag/news/press-releases/2026/04/06/ag-nessel-secures-agreement-with-wedding-caterer
• WILX: https://www.wilx.com/2026/04/06/west-michigan-wedding-caterer-banned-deceptive-practices/
• FOX 2 Detroit: https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/michigan-wedding-caterer-banned-from-industry-5-years-after-dozens-complaints