If you bought certain joint health products containing glucosamine, you could get money from a class action settlement.
,QFOXGHV 0RYH )UHH 0RYH )UHH $GYDQFHG 3DLQ )UHH /XEULÀH[ Great American Nutrition, Metaform, Muscle Tribe, Victory, Schiff,
Kirkland, Member’s Mark and Spring Valley brand products A Settlement has been reached in class action lawsuits against Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., Schiff Nutrition Group, Inc., Reckitt Benckiser LLC and their affiliates (Schiff) regarding their joint health products. The lawsuits claim that the labeling and packaging of these joint health products contain false, deceptive and misleading statements and do not warn consumers about the potentially harmful side effects. Schiff denies all of the claims in the lawsuits and any wrongdoing. The Court has not decided who is right.
WHO IS INCLUDED? You are included in the Settlement Class if you are a resident of the United States who purchased for personal use, and not for resale or distribution, a Move Free, Move Free Advanced, Pain Free, Lubriflex, Great American Nutrition, Metaform, Muscle Tribe, Victory, Schiff, Kirkland, Member’s Mark or Spring Valley brand joint health product between January 1, 2005 and May 27, 2015. A complete list of all joint health products included in the Settlement (“Covered Products”) is available at www.SchiffGlucosamineSettlement.com or by writing to Schiff Nutrition International Consumer Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 43352, Providence, RI 02940-3352.
WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE? Schiff has agreed to a Settlement Fund of $6,510,000 to pay all costs associated with this Settlement. Settlement Class Members who submit a timely and valid Claim Form with proof of purchase, such as a cash register receipt, the box or bottles of a Covered Product containing a readable UPC code and lot number, or documentation showing purchase of the Covered Product and the date and location of that purchase, may claim $10 per bottle of Covered Product for up to five bottles (up to $50 total). Settlement Class Members who submit a timely and valid Claim Form without proof of purchase may claim $3 per bottle of a Covered Product for up to four bottles (up to $12 total). If the total dollar value of valid Claim Forms plus Notice and Administrative Costs, Attorneys’ Fees Award and Incentive Awards exceeds $6,510,000, the payment to each Settlement Class Member who submitted a valid Claim Form will be proportionately reduced until the total amount paid under the Settlement equals $6,510,000. If the total dollar value of valid Claim Forms plus Notice and Administrative Costs, Attorneys’ Fees Award and Incentive Awards is less than $6,510,000, the payment to each Settlement Class Member who submitted a valid Claim Form with proof of purchase will increase (up to triple the amount of the original claim). If, after increasing these payments, the total payment amount is still less than $6,510,000, the payment to each Settlement Class Member who submitted a valid Claim Form without proof of purchase will increase (up to double the amount of the original claim). If, after increasing the payment for all valid claims, the total payment amount is still less than $6,510,000, the balance will be distributed on a pro rata basis (divided proportionately among the number of Claim Forms submitted and the dollar amount of those claims) to all Settlement Class Members who submitted a timely and valid Claim Form. In addition to payments, Schiff has agreed to certain changes to the marketing and packaging for the Covered Products.
HOW DO YOU GET A PAYMENT? You must submit a timely and valid Claim Form by September 24, 2015. Complete and submit your Claim Form online at www.SchiffGlucosamineSettlement.com, download a Claim Form from the website or get one by calling 1-877-219-9780, or by writing to Schiff Nutrition International Consumer Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 43352, Providence, RI 02940-3352.
YOUR OTHER OPTIONS? If you do nothing, your rights will be affected and you will not get a settlement payment. If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself from it. The deadline to exclude yourself is September 24, 2015. Unless you exclude yourself, you will not be able to sue or continue to sue Schiff for any claim resolved by this Settlement or released in the Second Amended Settlement Agreement and General Release. If you exclude yourself, you cannot get a payment from the Settlement. If you stay in the Settlement ( i.e., don’t exclude yourself), you may object to it by September
24, 2015. More information is in the detailed notice and Second Amended Settlement Agreement available at www.SchiffGlucosamineSettlement. com or by writing to Schiff Nutrition International Consumer Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 43352, Providence, RI 02940-3352.
THE COURT’S FAIRNESS HEARING. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, located the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse, 221 W. Broadway, San Diego, California 92101 will hold a hearing in this case ( Lerma v. Schiff Nutrition International, Inc., et al., No. 3:11-cv01056-CAB-MDD), on October 30, 2015 at 10 a.m. to consider whether to approve: (1) the proposed Settlement; (2) Settlement Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees of up to 33% of the $6,510,000 Settlement Fund as well as costs; and (3) a payment of up to $10,000 from the Settlement Fund for the Named Plaintiffs (Luis Lerma, Nick Pearson and Muriel Jayson). You may appear at the hearing or hire an attorney, at your expense, to appear or speak for you at the hearing, but you do not have to.
WANT MORE INFORMATION? Go to the website, call or write to Schiff Nutrition International Consumer Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 43352, Providence, RI 02940-3352.