Waggin’ Train, Canyon Creek Ranch Dog Treat Settlement

Nestle Purina PetCare Company and Waggin’ Train LLC have agreed to settle three class action lawsuits alleging Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats imported from or containing ingredients from China were defective and caused some pets to become sick and/or die after they consumed the products. If you purchased or your pet consumed Waggin’ Train or Canyon Creek Ranch dog treat products, you could be entitled to benefits from the class action settlement.

The plaintiffs in the dog treat class action lawsuits blamed the nation’s largest manufacturers of jerky treats for the illness and death of more than 1,000 pets.

Nestle and Waggin’ Train deny any wrongdoing but agreed to settle the dog treat class action lawsuits to avoid the cost and expense of trial. Under the terms of the proposed dog treat settlement, the defendants have agreed to create a $6.5 million settlement fund to reimburse eligible Class Members for reasonable economic damages incurred as a result of their pet’s consumption of the dog treat products. The companies have also agreed to change some of their policies related to the ingredients and labeling used for its dog treat products.

UPDATE: An appeal to the dog treat class action settlement was dismissed on Dec. 10, 2015, meaning that checks may soon be mailed to Class Members who filed valid claims.

UPDATE 2: On Mar. 21, 2016, Top Class Actions readers started receiving checks in the mail from this class action settlement worth as much as $300.

Who’s Eligible

You are a Class Member of the dog treat settlement if you purchased or obtained, or if your pets used or consumed, Waggin’ Train or Canyon Creek Ranch dog treat products imported from China or containing any ingredient imported from China.

A list of the eligible dog treat products is available here.

Potential Award

Varies.

Eligible Class Members may receive up to a 100 percent cash payment for documented, reasonable economic damages incurred as a result of their purchase or their pet’s consumption of the dog treat products, including veterinary treatment costs, death-related expenses and reimbursement for the cost or fair market value of their deceased pet.

Class Members who do not have documents supporting their claims for economic damages may be eligible for cash reimbursement of up to $300 per pet.

The claims may be subject to pro rata reductions and other limitations:

• The total amount of money available to reimburse pet owners for healthy pet screening or testing in cases where the pet did not become ill or die is limited to a total of $100,000.
• The total amount of money available for reimbursement of purchases of dog treat products is limited to $700,000.
• If the total value of claims for all other economic damages exceed the total class action settlement fund available, the claims may be subject to a pro rata reduction.

Proof of Purchase

Dog Treat Purchase: Documentation of dog treat product purchase may include receipts, credit card statements, cancelled checks, copies of the product labels or any other records that demonstrate you purchased the food and how much you paid.

Veterinary Expenses: Documentation of veterinary expenses may include veterinarian bills, veterinarian records, cancelled checks, receipts, credit card receipts or statements, or a statement from your veterinarian.

Death-Related Expenses: Death-related expenses may include the costs of euthanasia or putting your pet to sleep, necropsy or pet autopsy, cremation, burial or other services. Documentation of these expenses may include veterinarian bills, veterinarian records, pet cemetery records, cancelled checks, receipts, credit card receipts or statements, or a statement from your veterinarian.

Loss of Pet: Documentation of expenses for the loss of a pet may include a bill, receipt, credit card statement, cancelled check, AKC or CKC registration, third party appraisal or other documentation of the cost or fair market value of the pet.

Even if you do not have documentation to support your claim for economic damages, you may still be able to receive payment for valid and reasonable economic damages, up to a maximum of $300.

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

4/1/2015

Case Name

Adkins, et al. v. Nestle Purina PetCare Company, et al., Case No. 1:12-cv-02871, Matin v. Nestle Purina PetCare Company, et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-01512, and Gandara v. Nestle Purina PetCare Company, et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-04159, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Final Hearing

6/23/2015

Settlement Website

www.DogTreatProductsSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Dog Treat Products Settlement Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 4178
Portland, OR 97208-4178
Phone: 1-866-329-9963
Fax: 1-844-892-7212
info@DogTreatProductsSettlement.com

Class Counsel

Stuart A. Davidson
Rachel L. Jensen
ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP

James O. Latturner
Thomas E. Soule
EDELMAN COMPS LATTURNER & GOODWIN LLC

Bruce E. Newman
BROWN PAINDIRIS & SCOTT LLP

James M. Treglio
THE CLARK LAW FIRM PC

Defense Counsel

Craig A. Hoover
E. Desmond Hogan
Miranda L. Berge
HOGAN LOVELS US LLP