Primary plaintiffs James Boswell and Malia Levin filed the Costco coconut oil mislabeling lawsuit in March of 2016. The two primary plaintiffs asserted Costco misrepresented its line of coconut oil as “healthy.” Mostly sold in two-jar packs, the house brand coconut oil sold under the Kirkland label possesses a significant amount of saturated fat.
The lead plaintiffs charged Costco with manipulating consumers who have expressed interest in eating ‘healthy” foods. Several studies introduced during the Costco class action settlement demonstrate that saturated fat consumed in excess increases the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. The health risks of saturated fat make Costco coconut oil essentially an unhealthy alternative to other oils and fats.
More than one year of discovery, preliminary motions, and mediation conferences finally lead to both parties agreeing to the class action settlement. With a judge granting preliminary approval in March of 2017, the class action settlement requires Costco to set up a $750,000 settlement fund to compensate eligible class members. The fund also pays for the primary plaintiffs’ incentive awards, as well as court costs and attorney fees. Costco has also consented to removing the terms “healthy” and “healthful” from Costco coconut oil labels.
Although Costco signed off on the class action settlement, the company continues to deny mislabeling its line of coconut oil. However, the company agreed to the class action settlement to avoid the high costs of additional litigation.
What You Need To Know About The Costco Coconut Oil Mislabeling Class Action Settlement
According to court documents, eligible class members of the Costco coconut oi mislabeling class action settlement “include all persons in the U.S. who bought Kirkland Signature Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in 42.3-ounce jars for personal or household use since March 1, 2014.” Eligible class members must submit requests for opting out of the class action settlement in writing by October 30, 2017. Any class member who wants to dispute one or more provisions within the agreement must submit handwritten requests by November 13, 2017. The potential award depends on the number of valid and timely claim forms submitted to the claims administrator. Each eligible class members can expect to receive a payment for each Costco coconut oil purchase, with a maximum of five units purchased.
The deadline to file a valid claim is October 30, 2017. The judge presiding over the class action settlement case Boswell, et al. v. Costco Wholesale Corp., et al., Case No. 8:16-cv-00278, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has scheduled the final hearing on December 4, 2017. Visit the class action settlement website www.KirklandCoconutOilSettlement.com to learn what transpired during the final hearing. The class action settlement website also updates information pertaining to the potential award.
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