Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Costco have announced a refund program for consumers who purchased tuna cans from the brands StarKist and Lion Capital during a specific period.
This initiative follows a legal ruling that determined these companies had set prices excessively high for their products. For your information, the refund program is a result of several key factors.
Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Costco refund
- Violation of Laws: A U.S. court ruled in favor of consumers, determining that the tuna brands had violated competition laws by artificially inflating prices.
- Million-Dollar Settlement: To resolve the class action lawsuits, the involved companies agreed to pay a compensation totaling $200 million.
Consumers who purchased the affected tuna cans during the specified period are eligible to receive a refund from Walmart, Sam’s Club, or Costco. Make sure to check the terms and conditions to confirm your eligibility.
Attention, tuna consumers! If you purchased cans of tuna from the brands StarKist or Lion Capital between June 2011 and December 2016 at retailers like Walmart, Sam’s Club, or Costco, you might be entitled to a reimbursement.
Potential Compensation
It’s estimated that affected consumers could receive around $25 for each tuna purchase made during this period.
How to Claim Your Reimbursement
Notification by Mail: Eligible consumers will receive a notification via postal mail with detailed instructions on how to claim their reimbursement.
Importance of Checking Your Mail: It’s crucial to keep an eye on your mailbox, as this will be the only method to receive the necessary information.
Statement from the Companies
While the companies involved have not admitted fault, they have agreed to pay the settlement. The CEO of StarKist expressed in a statement their commitment to social responsibility and their desire to resolve the lawsuit promptly.
The investigation, conducted by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice since 2015, uncovered that both companies, StarKist and Lion Capital, had engaged in price-fixing practices that negatively impacted competition in the market.
Legal Proceedings and Settlements
Following the criminal proceedings, the vast majority of related civil litigations have ended in out-of-court settlements. The plaintiffs, mostly direct consumers, have negotiated both individually and facilitated by Judge Dana M. Sabraw to avoid the costs and delays of a trial.
Proposed Global Settlement
In June 2024, a proposal for a global settlement was presented between the plaintiffs and the companies involved (Walmart, Sam’s Club, or Costco), including Dongwon Industries (owner of StarKist) and Lion Capital (former owner of Bumble Bee). This agreement is currently awaiting judicial approval.
