Primary plaintiffs Catherine Gemkow, Michael E. Taylor, and Dawn R. Fortner claimed in a class action lawsuit that defendants Dynamic Pet Products LLC and Frick’s Meat Products sold Real Ham Bone products to profit off the revenue generated from slaughterhouse waste. According to class action lawsuit documents, “Defendants represent in their advertising and marketing materials that the Real Ham Bone For Dogs is a safe and appropriate product for dogs,” the Real Ham Bone class action lawsuit states. “These representations are false and misleading because the product is extremely hazardous to dogs.”
The plaintiffs assert the Real Ham Bone product produced “needle-like shards” that irritate and potentially puncture the intestinal tract of a dog, which creates acute internal injuries. Class counsel also mentions the Real Ham Bone products contain bacterial toxins that induce severe seizures, diarrhea, vomiting, and internal bleeding. The Real Ham Bone for Dog product is marketed as an eight-inch pig femur that undergoes brining, smoking, and baking within an oven for about eight hours. Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim the smoking and baking processes cause the bone to dry out and eventually crumble into sharp pieces.
A judge approved the class action settlement on April 19, 2017. Under the terms of the settlement, neither defendant has agreed to admit liability for manufacturing the defective dog products. The Real Ham Bone for Dogs class action lawsuit alleges several violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
What You Need To Know
Consumers who purchased Real Ham Bone products between January 1, 2011 and May 12, 2017 are eligible for the potential award stated in the final class action settlement. Class members have until July 11, 2017 to contest any provision of the class action settlement or opt out of the final agreement. The potential award per class member is as high as $2,500 for class members who provide documentation for veterinary expenses that include treatment for any injuries caused by Real Ham Bone for Dog products. Eligible class members have until September 9, 2017 to file a valid claim form that includes veterinarian expense documentation.
Michael Taylor, et al. v. Dynamic Pet Products LLC, et al., Case No. 1616-CV11531, in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri at Independence has a final hearing scheduled for August 3, 2917. Class members can read about the agenda for the final hearing, as well as any other class action settlement information at the website www.RealHamBoneSettlement.com.
Attorneys from the law firm Shank & Moore LLC represent the plaintiffs in the Real Ham Bone for Dog class action settlement. Defense counsel comprises attorneys from Wilson Elser Moskowtiz Edelman & Dicker LLP.
