On August 7, 2020, plaintiffs in the class action suit against Walmart, which centered on claims of price gouging for meat products, submitted a settlement worth up to $9.5 million to Southern District of Florida Judge Jose E. Martinez for preliminary approval. The class alleged that the defendant engaged in systematic overcharging for beef, pork, poultry, fish and other types of packaged foods.
In the suit, named plaintiff Vassilios Kukorinis asserted that Walmart deceptively advertised its unit prices for weighted meat products that were placed on sale as they approached their respective expiration dates. Additionally, the plaintiff claimed that the meat products were assigned specific unit sales prices that did not coincide with the cumulative final sale price as determined by the weight listed on the original labels. Class counsel determined that the average overage across weighted meats products nationwide was approximately $1.67 per purchase.
Walmart has agreed to fund a non-reversionary qualified settlement fund with a floor of at least $4.5 million, and, if the settlement exceeds $4.5 million, Walmart will increase its contribution to the settlement fund to $9.5 million. The settlement fund will be used to pay for reimbursement of overcharged class members up to $10.00 for sworn attestation of purchases of weighted meats and $40.00 for documented purchases of weighted meats, inclusive of receipts or proof of purchase, but lacking the packaging to demonstrate the actual amount overcharged based on original weight. The settlement will also cover attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses and litigation expenses.
The class is made up of all persons in the U.S. who purchased weighted meats at Walmart from February 13, 2015, to the date of publication of notice of settlement.
The case is: Kukorinis v. Walmart Inc., Case No.: 1:19-cv-20592, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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