Lawsuit Paying Anyone Who Bought Milk Since 2013 –Truth! & Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
A class action lawsuit will pay anyone who has bought milk since 2003.
The Truth:
Residents of 15 states and the District of Columbia who have bought milk since 2003 could be eligible for a cash payout under Fresh Milk Products Antitrust Litigation.
However, claims that anyone who bought milk since 2003 is entitled to a cash payout resulting from the antitrust litigation are false. The Fresh Milk Product Antitrust Litigation only applies to those who bought milk in Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Residents of those 15 states and the District of Columbia who have bought milk since 2003 have until January 31, 2017, to file a claim for a cash payout under the lawsuit. The settlement pool in the lawsuit is $52 million, and individuals could receive $45-$70 each, with entities receiving as much as $1,260-$1,960, according to BoughtMilk.com:
The settlement provides for $52 million in recovery for the class. You can submit a simple online claim form opting for cash, with no proof of purchase required. If final approval is granted to the settlement, Class members who have filed valid and timely claims will receive cash payments distributed directly into an online account of their choosing. There will be two different levels of fixed cash payments, based on class member’s purchases and the total number of class members making claims. Any class member whose claim form identifies it as purchasing milk and fresh milk products in an amount that exceeds normal household purchases will receive the higher fixed amount. For example, the regular fixed amount may be $30, or it may be higher or lower depending on the numbers of all class members making claims, with the higher fixed cash payment above that amount. A
In order to file a claim, you’ll need to visit the settlement website, BoughtMilk.com, where you’ll be directed to enter your name and email address. From there, you’ll receive further instructions on how to proceed with the claim via email.
The lawsuit, Mathew Edwards v. National Milk Producers Federation, contends that farmers were paid by dairy cooperatives Land O’Lakes, Dairy Farmers of America, Dairylea Cooperative and Agrimark to prematurely slaughter cows in an effort to reduce the supply of raw milk to drive up prices for fresh dairy products in the 15 states named in the suit. The defendants have denied wrongdoing, but have agreed to settle the case to avoid “further expense, inconvenience and the uncertainties and business disruption and burden of continued litigation.”
So, it’s true that those who bought milk in 15 states and the District of Columbia could be eligible for a cash payout resulting from Fresh Milk Product Antirust legislation. However, be on the lookout for scammers using this litigation to steal your personal information: only submit information via the BoughtMilk.com website, and never give out personal information via email or phone to unsolicited senders and callers.