Walmart Class Action Says LED Bulbs Mislabeled With Energy Star Logo

A class action lawsuit says that Walmart misrepresents the energy efficiency of its Great Value-brand LED light bulbs by falsely advertising them as Energy Star-qualified.

Allegedly, the light bulbs are labeled with the Energy Star logo even though they do not meet the Energy Star efficiency standards. 

The Walmart class action lawsuit was filed by Francis Pargett who says that in 2017, he purchased Great Value LED light bulbs from a Walmart in California for about $6 plus tax. Allegedly, the light bulbs’ packages were marked with the Energy Star logo on the front.

Pargett says he saw the Energy Star logo before and at the time of his purchase, and understood it to be a warranty by the manufacturer and the retailer that the products met the Energy Star standards of efficiency.

The Walmart LED class action lawsuit says the $6 price was a premium — more expensive than other bulbs — but Pargett was willing to pay it because he believed that the bulbs would be more energy efficient than other bulbs, which would maximize his energy savings while protecting the environment. 

The Walmart false advertising class action lawsuit says that to receive Energy Star certification, light bulbs must meet certain standards for energy efficiency. Allegedly, these standards are set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

The Department of Energy’s General Counsel, Scott Blake Harris, reportedly called the Energy Star standards and label a “critical tool for consumers looking to save energy and money with their appliances.” 

Walmart allegedly knows that customers rely on the Energy Star label to make purchasing decisions, and used it to entice customers into buying Great Value-branded bulbs over other bulbs on the market. 

The Walmart LED light bulb class action lawsuit says that this labeling financially injures customers because they rely on the Energy Star logo to tell them that the bulbs that they are purchasing will meet certain standards, and will therefore save them money on their energy bill. Allegedly, Walmart was unjustly enriched by the sale of the falsely advertised light bulbs.

Pargett claims that had he known that the light bulbs were not as energy efficient as advertised, he would not have purchased them or would not have paid as much for them. He says that he was denied the benefit of his bargain. 

The Walmart light bulb class action lawsuit says that Walmart’s conduct violates California law, and that the retailer committed fraud and breached both expressed implied warranty with its customers.

Pargett seeks damages on behalf of himself and all other similarly affected individuals.

Do you purchase light bulbs based on their advertised energy efficiency? Tell us more in the comments below.

Pargett is represented by Neal J. Deckant, Scott A. Bursor, L. Timothy Fisher, and Sarah N. Westcot of Bursor & Fisher PA.

The Walmart Great Value Light Bulbs Class Action Lawsuit is Francis Pargett v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Case No. 5:19-cv-02157, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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