The Coca-Cola Company

Vitaminwater

TINA.org objected — as amicus curiae — to class-action settlements that sought to resolve claims filed against Coca-Cola and its subsidiary Glacéau alleging that the companies falsely advertised Vitaminwater as healthy when a 20-ounce bottle had over 30 grams of sugar — more sugar than many standard-sized candy bars — and nutrients consisted of less than 0.5% of the content.


Highlights

  • Filed an objection in Ohio federal court
  • Filed an objection in New York federal court

Timeline

2016
April 7

The New York Court issues an opinion explaining the March final approval of the settlement.

March 21

The New York Court approves the settlement over TINA.org’s and others’ objections.

February 26

The New York Court grants TINA.org’s Motion for Leave at the Final Fairness Hearing but reserves judgment on whether to approve or reject the proposed settlement agreement.

February 19

Plaintiffs in the New York case file an opposition to TINA.org’s Motion for Leave to file an amicus brief.

January 13

TINA.org files a brief in the New York case as amicus curiae opposing the proposed settlement reached by the parties, as well as a Motion for Leave to file the brief.

2015
September 30

The parties in the New York case reach a settlement agreement.

June 1

The appeal of the Ohio Court’s approval was dismissed with prejudice.

April 21

A class member in the Ohio case files a Notice of Appeal indicating that he is appealing the Court’s final approval of the settlement agreement, as well as the approval of attorneys’ fees, to the Sixth Circuit.

March 30

The Ohio Court issues an Order granting final approval of the settlement agreement.

2014
December 12

Plaintiffs in the Ohio case file a response to TINA.org’s brief.

December 2

The Final Fairness Hearing is held in federal court in Ohio. The judge presiding over the case, Judge Barrett, grants TINA.org’s Motion for Leave to file brief as amicus curiae and gives plaintiffs 10 days to respond to TINA.org’s arguments for why the settlement should be rejected.

November 20

TINA.org notifies the Ohio Court of a decision reached in the Seventh Circuit on Nov. 19 that reversed a district court’s approval of a class-action settlement under similar circumstances. In that case, Pearson v. NBTY, Inc., the settlement that was ultimately rejected provided for minor word changes to the product labels at issue, small monetary awards to the class members, and $1.9 million in attorneys’ fees.

November 5

Plaintiffs in the Ohio case file an opposition to TINA.org’s Motion for Leave to file brief as amicus curiae.

October 21

TINA.org files a brief as amicus curiae in the Ohio case opposing the proposed settlement reached by the parties, as well as a Motion for Leave to file the brief.

August 5

The parties in the Ohio case reach a settlement agreement and move for preliminary approval.

2010

Plaintiffs file a class-action complaint (which is later amended) in Ohio.

2009

Plaintiffs file a class-action complaint in New York.

* The above events do not represent the entire procedural history of the cases, but rather only highlights some key events pertaining to TINA.org’s involvement in the cases.


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