Facts

Plaintiffs across the country initiated class action lawsuits against McCormick & Company, Inc. after purchasing certain Black Pepper Products that were packaged and produced by McCormick.

PLAINTIFFS' CONTENTIONS: Plaintiffs alleged that McCormick improperly implemented a price increase by decreasing the quantity of pepper in certain McCormick brand pepper containers and certain store-branded containers which were also supplied by McCormick, while keeping the non-transparent containers the same size.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS: Defendant denied all contentions, and contended that, at all times, it complied with the law.

Result

After the court certified three individual state class actions (for California, Florida, and Missouri), the parties agreed to resolve the California, Florida, and Missouri claims only, with no admission of liability, in a $2.5 million settlement agreement.

Other Information

JUDGE: Hon. Ellen Segal Huvelle