Summary of Action

Numerous class-action lawsuits have been filed across the country over the advertising of glucosamine supplements, all alleging that the various marketers of the products falsely label them as able to rebuild cartilage and support joint comfort without competent scientific evidence to support such claims.

In September 2014, the parties to one of the class actions pending against the marketers of Wellesse Joint Movement Glucosamine supplements reached a proposed settlement agreement that would allow the companies to continue their deceptive labeling in exchange for approximately $3 million to be divided among the entire nationwide class and the plaintiffs’ attorneys (who will be pocketing roughly a third, or $930,000).  Under the terms of the agreement, the glucosamine marketers will refrain from using a mere eight phrases just on the product labels (other marketing will be unaffected) and only for a period of three years.  After that, they will be able to go back to the original label, but the class members will be forever prohibited from doing anything about it, according to the terms of the settlement.

Because the agreement does not eradicate the deception at issue and is therefore unfair to consumers, TINA.org filed a brief in February 2015 as amicus curiae opposing the proposed settlement.  However, on May 20, 2015, the Court approved the settlement.

For more information about TINA.org’s position or to read the full brief, use the menu.