Attention Walmart Shoppers and RAV4 Drivers! We’re a solid year into the pandemic and we’re all doing our best to stay safe and power through these strange times. So, we’re back doing what we do best – bringing you the latest in class action news. In this issue, we have an update on the investigation into a potential defect causing problems in Toyota RAV4 vehicles. From there, our featured stories will touch on the surprising ingredient in hand sanitizers sold at Walmart, a problem plaguing professional and amateur photographers alike, and a lawsuit that takes issue with the refunds GEICO has given to policyholders amid the COVID-19 crisis. Keep reading for the latest – including the most recent class action settlements. - Ty Armstrong, Writer/Community Manager |
| After receiving more complaints from drivers, attorneys working with ClassAction.org have decided to expand their investigation involving 2013-2019 Toyota RAV4s. They’re now looking into reports of stalling and loss of power in the vehicles, along with unexpected fires and smoking. It is believed that the slew of problems drivers have experienced all stem from an issue with the vehicle’s battery – and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes nearly 2 million vehicles may be affected. Attorneys are specifically looking to determine whether the battery problem stems from an inherent manufacturing or design defect. If so, a class action lawsuit could be filed against Toyota to help compensate drivers for repairs and potentially force the company to offer a fix. If you had issues with your Toyota RAV4, ranging from engine fires and stalling to a sudden loss of power, help this investigation and share your story with us here. |
Hand Sanitizer Sold at Walmart Contains “Unlawful” Levels of Benzene Hand sanitizer is one of those things we shouldn’t have to worry about being safe to use, but a recently filed lawsuit is claiming that several brands of sanitizer sold by Walmart contain unlawful levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. Specifically, the lawsuit claims that Virgin Scent, Inc., which produces Artnaturals-brand sanitizers, failed to take “reasonable steps” to ensure its products did not contain unacceptable levels of benzene impurities. As for Walmart’s part, the suit accuses the mega-retailer of neglecting to make sure the hand sanitizers it sold met FDA guidelines. As a result of the companies’ actions (or lack thereof), consumers were unaware that the hand sanitizers they purchased contained benzene impurities “well beyond the levels that would be permissible in gasoline” until a third-party pharmacy tested the products and petitioned the FDA for a recall. As it currently stands, the lawsuit is looking to cover people who bought the hand sanitizers in question since January 1, 2015. For more details and a list of potentially affected products, we have you covered |
 Our settlements page is always being updated. Have you checked to see if you're covered by any open settlements? You can also check out the latest settlements as they happen by following us on Twitter. |
| Latest Settlements - Post Cereal – Added Sugar
This settlement covers those who bought Honey Bunches of Oats, Great Grains, Raisin Bran, Bran Flakes, Honey Bunches of Oats Granola, Honeycomb, Shredded Wheat, Alpha-Bits, Waffle Crisp, Selects or Golden Crisp between August 29, 2012 and November 2, 2020. - UCLA Health - Data Breach
If your personal information was stored in the UCLA Health Network during the July 2015 cyberattack, you may be covered by this settlement. - Tyco Firefighting Foam - Water Contamination
If you lived in or owned a property with a private well drinking water source in the Peshtigo, Wisconsin area for at least one year between January 1965 and December 2020, you may be included in this settlement. | | |
To view a complete list of settlements and to find out how you can file a claim, click here. |
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| | ~ In Other News ~ | If you’re going to spend $2,000 on a camera, it should be one that’s going to last. Well, according to a recently filed lawsuit, Sony’s a7iii model isn’t worth its hefty price tag – and it’s all because of a shutter defect that causes the camera to fail well before it should. Any hardcore photographers out there know that a camera’s “actuations” refer to how many pictures the camera can take during its useful life, with the a7iii advertised as being able to function through 200,000 actuations. In reality, however, the camera’s shutters tend to fail well before that benchmark – somewhere in the 10,000 to 50,000 range, the lawsuit alleges. At that point, if no warranty is in effect, Sony a7iii owners are facing repairs that cost anywhere between $500 and $650. If you’re getting an error message on your camera, the screen is going black, or you’re hearing strange noises from the shutter, you’ll want to take a closer look at the lawsuit here. |
| GEICO, the home of our favorite TV gecko, is facing a proposed class action lawsuit that claims the insurance company failed to issue adequate refunds for auto insurance premiums paid during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit puts it like this: since auto insurance premiums are based on historical data and intend to cover future claims and expenses, the essential overnight drop in car accidents due to the pandemic has led GEICO to “unfairly profit” at the expense of policyholders. While GEICO did offer a 15-percent discount, consumers are claiming it’s not enough when compared to what industry experts have found to be an appropriate refund amount. The suit looks to represent all California residents who purchased personal auto, motorcycle or RV insurance policies from GEICO covering any period of time since March 1, 2020. So, if you’ve been working from home or are generally traveling less, you’ll want to check out the details here. |
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