Faulty Laptop Batteries, Unfair Bank Fees Top Class-Action Settlements
The latest major class-action settlements involve claims that ground coffee was replaced by instant coffee, laptop batteries overheated and retirement fund investments benefited the plan’s trustee more than the beneficiaries.
The largest settlement: $135 million over faulty engines in long-haul trucks.
Grove Square Coffee Single Cups
Grove Square Coffee has agreed to a $25 million settlement over claims it added instant coffee to its single-cup products.
The single cups designed to be used in Keurig machines were advertised as containing premium ground coffee, but a lawsuit claimed the cups consisted of more than 96% instant coffee.
The settlement covers single-cup packages of Grove Square Coffee Light Roast, Grove Square Coffee Medium Roast and Grove Square Coffee Dark Roast.
Purchases must have been made between Sept. 30, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2019 in Alabama, California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee.
Awards range from $25 to $275. Submit your claim by the May 7, 2020 deadline.
ASUS Laptop Batteries
ASUS laptop owners may qualify for a portion of a $12 million settlement over allegedly defective batteries.
The lawsuit claimed that laptops displayed performance problems while on low battery, batteries drained even when the laptop was plugged in and degradation of batteries. In some cases, the suit claimed, the problem caused laptops to overheat and become inoperable.
If you bought an ASUS Rog Strix GL502VS or GL502VSK laptop between May 4, 2014 and Nov. 19, 2019, you could receive a cash payment up to $110 or a credit certificate valued up to $210.
Extended warranties are available for the ASUS Rog Strix GL502VS laptops, which may be eligible for covered repairs.
ASUS laptop owners should submit a claim by the April 3, 2020 deadline.
Allina Health System Retirement Funds
Minnesota hospital chain Allina Health has agreed to a $2.4 million class-action settlement regarding allegations the company violated its fiduciary duties by improperly managing retirement funds.
Participants and beneficiaries of the Allina Health System 403(b) retirement plan and the Allina 401(k) plan who were in the plans between Aug. 18, 2011 and Nov. 21, 2019 are eligible for a portion of this settlement.
The suit claims that Allina violated its fiduciary duty under federal law by not attempting to reduce expenses for plan participants or to optimize their investments. Allina allegedly allowed retirement plan trustee Fidelity to “lard the plans with high-cost, non-Fidelity mutual funds through which Fidelity received millions of dollars in revenue sharing payments.”
The minimum award is $10, but the exact amount will depend upon actual account balances and other factors.
Payments will be distributed according to Allina’s records. Exclusion from the settlement is not an option, but participants may object to the settlement until March 16, 2020. Click here for more details.
Navistar MaxxForce Engines
Navistar International Corporation, which owns International brand commercial trucks, has agreed to a $135 million class action settlement resolving claims the company knowingly sold defective engines.
The lawsuit accused Navistar of selling MaxxForce 11-liter and 13-liter diesel engines that contained defective emissions systems, resulting in the engines to run hot and lead to frequent breakdowns.
The settlement affects consumers who bought or leased a 2011 to 2014 model year vehicle with a MaxxForce 11- or 13-liter engine certified to meet EPA 2010 emissions standards without selective catalytic reduction technology.
Claimants may receive up to $2,500 in cash or up to $10,000 in rebates per vehicle. A monetary amount will be awarded for each month the affected vehicle was owned or leased.
A third “Prove-Up” option of up to $15,000 in covered costs per vehicle is available to those who paid to repair or replace certain engine components.
Read the details and submit a claim by the May 11, 2020 deadline.
RBC Bank Overdraft Fees
If you had an account with RBC Bank and were charged overdraft fees between Oct. 10, 2007 and March 1, 2012, you may be eligible for a portion of a $7.5 million class-action settlement.
If RBC posted your transactions from the highest to the lowest amounts instead of by the time the transactions were completed, triggering overdraft fees, you could be eligible for an award based upon the number of fees you were charged.
Award amounts will depend upon the number of claims, and will be paid either in case or account credits.
Affected customers will automatically be entered into the settlement. The deadline to be excluded is March 18, 2020.
Johnson & Johnson Infants’ Tylenol Pricing
Consumers who purchased Johnson & Johnson Infants’ Tylenol between Oct. 3, 2014 and Jan. 6, 2020 could benefit from a $6.3 million settlement.
The lawsuit claimed that the pain reliever was marketed to appear uniquely formulated for babies but actually contained the same concentration of acetaminophen found in Children’s Tylenol.
The lawsuit said consumers paid more for the medication believing the pain reliever was specially created for babies. Johnson & Johnson defended its Infants’ Tylenol, saying the safety features included a syringe to help ensure safe dosing practices.
The settlement affects all U.S. residents who bought Johnson & Johnson Infants’ Tylenol between Oct. 3, 2014 and Jan. 6, 2020.
Affected consumers can file a claim for up to seven bottles without a proof of purchase and receive $2.15 per bottle, for a total of $15.05. Consumers who provide receipts may claim an unlimited number of bottles.
Claim forms are due by April 13, 2020.
Oasis Energy Ringless Voicemail
You could be eligible for a portion of a $7 million settlement if you received an unsolicited, pre-recorded voicemail message from Oasis Energy.
Consumers who received a pre-recorded message or ringless voicemail from Oasis Energy or its affiliates Censtar, Electricity Maine, Electricity N.H., Major Energy, Perigee, Provider Power Mass, Respond Power, Spark or Verde (together known as “Oasis Entities”) between Feb. 12, 2014 and Sept. 25, 2019 without providing prior consent may qualify.
Oasis Entities is accused of sending pre-recorded voicemails that went directly to consumers’ voicemail. Such “ringless voicemails” violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Exact award amounts have not been determined.
Valid claim forms must be submitted by Feb. 20, 2020.
