Main Street Law Firm handles a number of cases under the umbrella of “mass tort litigation.” We believe that we can help individuals by advocating against large companies, manufacturers and conglomerates that have little regard for the effect their products have on consumers. Even though our firm is not involved in the matters listed below, we still want to keep you informed about some class action lawsuits that may benefit you. If you are wondering what the difference is between class actions and mass torts, click here to read our blog post about it.

What is a class action lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit filed by one or more plaintiffs on behalf of others who have a similar legal claim. Because they allow people to join together as a group in a single lawsuit against one or more defendants, class action lawsuits provide an economical and efficient method to recover monetary damages caused by others' wrongdoing. Class action lawsuits also encourage more responsible behavior on the part of corporate defendants.

Now let’s get to the important part, some current class actions from which you may be eligible to receive compensation:

1. Seagram's Ginger Ale Settlement

This settlement was brought against the Coca-Cola Company for their false advertisement of Seagram’s Ginger Ale. The lawsuit alleges that Coca-Cola inappropriately labeled several variants of Seagram’s Ginger Ale with labels that claimed the drinks were “Made with Real Ginger.” A $2.45 million settlement was reached by the Court to refund eligible class members.

Who is eligible:

- Individuals who purchased any Seagram’s Ginger Ale Product between April 1, 2013 and June 13, 2019

‍Claims-filing deadline: 09/05/2019

Potential award: Between 80¢ - $80 depending on number of units purchased

Click here to file your claim

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2. Gap & Banana Republic Settlement

This settlement was brought against Gap (which includes Gap Outlet, Gap Factory Store and Banana Republic Factory Store) who allegedly used false or misleading reference prices. While denying all allegations, Gap reached a settlement with the Court to refund eligible class members. The settlement refunds class members for any refunds or credits they failed to receive following purchases within the established timeframe.

Who is eligible:

- Individuals who made an in-store or online purchase at Gap Outlet, Gap Factory Store or Banana Republic Factory Store between May 24, 2010 and May 10, 2019

- And have not received a refund or credit for all purchases

Claims-filing deadline: 01/06/2020

Potential award: $6 - $12

Click here to file your claim

3. Ford & Lincoln Settlement

Ford Motor Company was sued for allegedly equipping certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles with defective “MyFord Touch” or “MyLincoln Touch” information and entertaining systems (MFT). The Plaintiffs claimed that the devices were defective because they failed to respond to voice commands, did not connect to the owner’s mobile device, provided inaccurate directions and/or misread the location of the vehicle, and/or would regularly freeze up or crash altogether. When the system crashes, the driver cannot operate any of the features connected to the device, including navigation, radio, rearview camera or defrosters. While Ford denies they did anything wrong, they reached a settlement with the Court to give cash payments to the affected class members.

Who is eligible:

- Individuals who purchased or leased a Ford or Lincoln vehicle equipped with MFT from an Authorized Ford or Lincoln Dealer

- Any time before August 9, 2013

- While in CA, MA, NJ, NC, OH, VA, or WA

‍Claims-filing deadline: 09/24/2019

Potential award: $20 - $400

Click here to file your claim

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4. Kona Beer Settlement

This case was brought to the Court by plaintiffs who alleged Kona Brewing Company Beer was misleading their customers by making them believe it was brewed in Hawaii. In doing so, Kona was believed to have broken statutory consumer protection and common laws. On December 19, 2019, the court approved the settlement that is expected to cost Kona around $4.7 million. Eligible claimants who submit timely and valid claim forms, without proof of purchase, can receive $10 per household and an additional $10 with proof of purchase(s).

For proof of purchases, the court decided that you can receive the following amounts:

• 4-pack Kona Beers: $1.25 per unit
• 6-pack Kona Beers: $1.25 per unit
• 12-pack Kona Beers: $2.00 per unit
• 24-pack Kona Beers: $2.75 per unit

‍Who is eligible:

-Individuals who purchased Kona beer between February 28, 2013 and June 14, 2019

Claims-filing deadline: 10/7/2019

Potential award: up to $10-$20

Click here to file your claim

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5. Equifax Data Breach Settlement

This settlement resolved the class action against Equifax, a consumer credit agency, for the data breach they experienced back in 2017. The breach led to the access and extraction of 147 million U.S. customer's personal information by an outside group, including customer's names, social security numbers, addresses, birth dates and in some cases even driver’s license numbers. Equifax denies any wrongdoing, and according to the settlement no judgment or finding of wrongdoing has been made. The settlement reached by the Court will compensate consumers for their time and money lost as a result of the data breach.

‍Who is eligible:

- Individuals whose data was stolen from Equifax (click here to find out if your data was stolen)

Claims-filing deadline: 01/22/2020

Potential award: $125 to $20,000 depending on severity of loss

Click here to file your claim

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6. Auto Parts Settlement

This settlement came from an alleged conspiracy amongst the largest manufacturers in the automotive industry to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate markets and customers in the U.S. that violate federal and state antitrust laws. Several rounds of settlements have already been approved by the courts.

Who is eligible:

- Individuals who bought or leased a new vehicle since 1995

- While a resident of AZ, AR, CA, DC, FL, HI, IA, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WV, or WI

‍Claims-filing deadline: the deadline has not been set

Potential award: TBD

Click here to file your claim

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Thanks for reading. We hope you got a little bit smarter and that you'll get a little extra cash in your pocket as well. If you found this helpful, subscribe to our newsletter below and share it with your friends and family!