Coke Pays $2.5M To Settle Suit Over Ginger Ale Labels
 |
 |
| Food and Beverage Labeling | Drugs, Supplements and Health |
Law 360
Ryan Boysen
May 10, 2019
The Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to a roughly $2.5 million deal to settle claims that the "made with real ginger" labeling on its Seagram's ginger ale is misleading, the last in a trio of similar proposed class actions to settle this year.
Announced Thursday in a motion for approval in California federal court, named plaintiff Jackie Fitzhenry-Russell said the deal is a solid outcome for her proposed national class of ginger ale drinkers, given the difficulty of proving at trial that consumers relied on the "made with real ginger" statements and paid a premium because of them.
"Under the circumstances, plaintiffs and plaintiffs' counsel appropriately determined that the instant settlement outweighs the gamble of continued litigation," Fitzhenry-Russell said.
The settlement would see Coca-Cola agree to stop using the "made with real ginger" claim on its Seagram's ginger ale products, in favor of less clear-cut statements like "real ginger extract" or "natural ginger taste."
The deal establishes a $2.5 million fund that will pay out between 80 cents per product per consumer, up to a maximum of $10 per consumer without proof of purchase and $80 with proof of purchase.
...
Fitzhenry-Russell is represented by Adam Gutride, Seth Safier, Marie McCrary, Matthew McCrary and Kristen Simplicio of Gutride Safier LLP.
Coca-Cola is represented by Steven Zalesin and Michelle Cohen of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP and Tammy Webb of Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP.
The case is Jackie Fitzhenry-Russell v. The Coca-Cola Co., case number 5:17-cv-00603, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Read more at: https://www.law360.com/articles/1158684?copied=1