A Texas woman is set to receive a full refund from a wedding venue after her fiancé died months before their ceremony. Posey Meadows, a venue in Hays County, has dropped its counterclaim against her and moved to settle the lawsuit she filed over the money.
According to KSAT, Diego Hernandez, 25, died suddenly in late April, about seven months before the couple’s planned Nov. 20 wedding. The couple had paid the venue $15,909.28 under a contract that treated payments as forfeited after a cancellation. The contract contained no clause covering the death of a client. The ceremony and reception were booked at the venue, which sits outside San Marcos.
Venue owner Julie Campbell wrote that the business was open to moving the booking or applying the money toward another event. She added that a partial refund might be possible if the date were rebooked. Hernandez’s mother, Lucy, recalled a phone call in early May in which she was told no refund would be issued. She asked, “Where are their morals? Where are their moral principles?”
Venue drops counterclaim and agrees to settle
The fiancée sent a demand letter in late June and filed suit in Hays County district court in late July. The complaint called the venue’s retention of the money an “unjust and ghoulish windfall built on a young man’s death.”
Posey Meadows responded with a counterclaim for breach of contract. It alleged the family had not provided proof of the death. The fiancée’s attorney called the venue’s claims baseless. He stated he offered the death certificate before the case began and received no reply. The venue explained that it asked for confirmation in early May and obtained the certificate in mid-August.
In statements to the outlet, the venue stated that its goal is to “treat every family and every client fairly, compassionately, and consistently.” It added that it was not pursuing any claim against the fiancée or seeking further payment from her. The business also noted that it had issued full refunds to families in similar tragedies. It expressed regret that the litigation had complicated what it hoped would be a quick and compassionate resolution.
The venue later replaced the attorney who filed the counterclaim, and an amended answer removed it. The new attorney stated that the business had offered to settle. The fiancée’s attorney confirmed she accepted the offer and will receive a full refund. The BBB Heart of Texas advises couples to ask whether a venue contract covers unforeseen events, including a death or another emergency. It also recommends requesting changes before signing and comparing cancellation policies across several venues.
Money disputes between customers and businesses have drawn attention elsewhere, including when a waitress cried over an unpaid $200 bill.
Published: Oct 23, 2026 03:12 pm