MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Utility company must compensate couple for ruining their marriage with a blackout

The full glitter marriage that never was

An Argentine power company must compensate a couple whose marriage was ruined because of a blackout which forced the suspension of the religious ceremony and the subsequent party.

According to the ruling from a Buenos Aires court, the utility company Edesur must compensate each member of the couple for “moral and material damage”, with the equivalent of 2.350 dollars since the company “was unable to justify any credible cause for the black out”

The higher court on confirming the first magistrate ruling said that the party and religious ceremony, scheduled 26 July 2006 at the Miraculous Medal parish in Buenos Aires, finally took place but under conditions “very different to those originally contracted”.

“There are no doubts that the normal development of the celebration was affected by the power cut and even more important if it is taken into consideration the fact that for both protagonists it was one of the most important nights of their lives”, added the ruling.

The tribunal included in the compensation “the repercussion of the blackout in other costs such as dresses for the occasion and other special outlays (hairdresser and make up)” equivalent to 200 dollars, as well as the costs of renting the ball room, disk jockey, church, food and beverage services plus photos and video.