Attorney General Jason Miyares has taken legal action to address alleged price gouging during the Richmond water crisis. The Attorney General’s office filed a petition in the Richmond City Circuit Court against JATTI LLC, operating as Manchester Market, to enforce compliance with a Civil Investigative Demand (CID). This demand is part of an ongoing investigation into complaints about inflated bottled water prices during the state of emergency declared by Governor Glenn Youngkin on January 3, 2025.
The state of emergency was declared due to severe winter weather that caused power outages and disrupted water systems in Richmond and nearby areas. Residents had to rely on bottled water amid boil water advisories and service interruptions.
The Office of the Attorney General received complaints that Manchester Market charged excessive prices for bottled water during this period. Despite attempts to obtain information voluntarily from the business, Manchester Market did not provide the necessary documentation. Consequently, a CID was issued on March 21, 2025, requiring documents related to pricing practices during the emergency. The business has yet to comply with this request.
The petition seeks court enforcement of the CID, compelling Manchester Market to submit all relevant documents and information for the investigation under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and the Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act.
