$2 Million Unilever Class Action Lawsuit Receives Preliminary Approval
Unsplash | Published: March 12, 2024
Claim Form Deadline: Ongoing
Estimated Payout: Varies
What's the Suave Antiperspirant Class Action Lawsuit?
A federal judge in Illinois has approved a preliminary settlement of $2 million to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging that Unilever United States Inc. sold Suave antiperspirant products containing harmful levels of benzene. The order, issued on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly, names Yvonne Barnes, Patricia Dean, Antonio Morris, and Bernadette Bogdanovs as class representatives.Bursor & Fisher PA, Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC, Levin Sedran & Berman, Shub & Johns LLC, and Sultzer & Lipari PLLC have been appointed as class counsel, while Angeion Group will serve as claims administrator.
Qualified consumers will include any individual residing in the U.S. who bought the affected Suave antiperspirant products between January 1, 2018, and the preliminary approval date. Objections and exclusions must be submitted by July 15, and the final hearing is set for September 13.
According to the agreement, Unilever will create a $2 million non-reversionary common fund. Class members providing proof of purchase can claim the purchase price per unit, whereas those lacking such evidence may get an average retail value of $3.29 per item (up to three items), effectively offering a complete refund. Payment amounts will adjust proportionally depending on the total settled amount claimed. Those previously compensated through Unilever's recall reimbursement program will see reduced payouts due to earlier recoveries.
As part of the arrangement, each representative receives $1,500, while lawyers seek up to $660,000 in fees and expenses – equivalent to one third of the settlement sum. However, these figures do not affect the validity of the overall agreement.
Plaintiffs argue that Unilever distributed contaminated goods because its Suave antiperspirants contained the carcinogenic substance benzene, violating both USFDA guidelines and the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. In March last year, Judge Kennelly dismissed certain claims yet allowed others to proceed, denying Unilever's motion to dismiss citing preemption under federal law. Subscribe to the Open Class Action newsletter below to be notified when the Suave Unilever benzene class action will become open to claims.
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