Settlement of False Advertising Lawsuit Against Bay Area Egg Producer

After several months of litigation and extensive negotiations, the parties agreed to settle the lawsuit on an individual basis rather than as a class action. The settlement agreement provides consumers with most of the relief sought in the complaint such as a change to advertising practices.

As a result of the settlement, and without admitting wrongdoing, Petaluma Farms has (1) agreed to modify the packaging by removing the illustration of hens on a green field and removing the language that Plaintiff alleged could lead consumers to mistakenly believe the eggs come from hens with significant outdoor access, (2) obtained Certified Humane certification (which includes a minimum animal welfare requirements) without changes to its facilities, (3) agreed to donate $14,666.67 to Sonoma Humane Society for hen rescue efforts, $14,666.67 to the Public Justice Foundation to provide assistance to the victims of consumer fraud and false advertising, and $14,666.66 to Consumer Action to provide assistance to the victims of consumer fraud and false advertising. Petaluma Farms will also provide $1,000 compensation to Plaintiff Glover in lieu of any recovery to which she would have been entitled had she prevailed in this action through class-certification and trial, and pay some of the attorney fees Plaintiff’s counsel incurred to prosecute this lawsuit.

This settlement and release of claims is limited to the individual parties to the lawsuit and does not bind any other Judy’s Eggs purchasers who may have been members of the proposed class. Although the Certified Humane certification, changes to the Judy’s Eggs advertising, and donations to the Sonoma Humane Society, Public Justice Foundation, and Consumer Action provide significant benefits to members of the proposed class and to the public at large, the release of claims does not extend to (and does not bind) members of the proposed class, who will retain all of their pre-existing legal rights.

Copies of the lawsuit are available by request.

February 5, 2014
http://aldf.org/press-room/press-releases/aldf-announces-settlement-of-false-advertising-lawsuit-against-bay-area-egg-producer/