Top Class Actions  |  October 12, 2020

Category: Closed Class Actions

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This settlement is closed!

Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!

Hard apple cider in a glass surrounded by apples - hard cider

UPDATE 2:

  • TCA viewers reported this settlement paying out up to $27 as of July 28, 2021.
  • Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

UPDATE:

  • The Court granted the Two Towns Ciderhouse settlement final approval on May 11, 2021.
  • According to the settlement website, payments were issued on July 6, 2021.
  • Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

Hard cider drinkers may be able to claim cash from a nearly $1 million fund in a class action settlement over allegations that 2 Towns Ciderhouse Hard Cider was falsely advertised.

Those who can benefit from the settlement agreement include consumers who purchased any of the following 2 Towns products between March 12, 2016 and Oct. 11, 2020:

  • Bright Cider
  • Easy Squeezy
  • Pacific Pineapple
  • Made Marion
  • Ginja Ninja
  • Outcide
  • Bad Apple
  • Cherried Away
  • Cot in the Act
  • Sun’s Out Saison
  • Nice & Naughty
  • Rhubarbarian
  • Pearadise
  • Prickly Pearadise
  • Serious Scrump
  • Imperial Hop & Stalk

2 Towns was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging the company falsely advertised its hard cider and other products as containing no artificial flavors.

According to the plaintiffs, they and other consumers purchased the products based on the following representation: “Nothing Artificial: NO concentrates or refined sugars; NO essences or artificial flavors; NO velcorin or sorbate.”

However, certain 2 Towns products contain artificial DL-Malic acid, the lawsuit contended. Allegedly, this substance is a synthetic version of a substance found in fruit and used by food makers to adjust the acidity of the juices.

“DL-Malic Acid is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof,” the complaint stated. “A combination of sugar and DL-Malic Acid in a ratio resembling a fruit flavor cannot be derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof.”

The plaintiffs alleged that 2 Towns included this substance in its products to make them taste more like apples. In addition, 2 Towns had a non-synthetic option, the complaint alleged – a substance called L-Malic acid, as well as citric acid. However, DL-Malic acid is much cheaper, the complaint noted, and the expense of using other “natural” ingredients is likely the reason 2 Towns used a synthetic product.

The plaintiffs claimed all 2 Towns products containing apple flavors, in fact, contained this synthetic substance despite representations that there was nothing artificial in the drink.

According to the class action lawsuit, consumers relied on packaging stating the hard cider did not contain artificial ingredients and would have needed an “advanced understanding of organic chemistry” to know that the products contained artificial DL-Malic acid when making their purchase.

As a result, alleged the plaintiffs, they and others paid more for the products than they would have had they known the products contained the synthetic ingredient.

2 Towns “strongly” denies any wrongdoing, but has agreed to pay nearly $1 million to end the class action lawsuit. In addition, the company has agreed to reformulate how it makes its hard cider products by switching from DL-Malic acid to L-Malic acid and change its labeling practices.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Class Members are entitled to a portion of the fund. Each Class Member’s class action rebate will depend on the number of products they purchased, whether they have proof of purchase and the total number of claims submitted.

Class Members’ awards will depend on the purchase prices of the 2 Towns products they bought, called a “weighted share.”

Class Members can claim a total of 10 products purchased; claims in excess of 10 that cannot be supported by a proof of purchase will be determined by their weighted value times 10.

To make a claim in the 2 Towns class action settlement, Class Members will need to submit a claim form either online or by mail. Claim forms are due by Jan 9, 2021.

Class Members who wish to exclude themselves from settlement agreement must do so by Dec. 28, 2020; those who wish to object must do so by March 26, 2021. The fairness hearing is scheduled for May 10, 2021.

Who’s Eligible

Consumers who purchased any of the following 2 Towns hard cider products between March 12, 2016, and Oct. 11, 2020:

  • Bright Cider
  • Easy Squeezy
  • Pacific Pineapple
  • Made Marion
  • Ginja Ninja
  • Outcide
  • Bad Apple
  • Cherried Away
  • Cot in the Act
  • Sun’s Out Saison
  • Nice & Naughty
  • Rhubarbarian
  • Pearadise
  • Prickly Pearadise
  • Serious Scrump
  • Imperial Hop & Stalk
Potential Award

To be determined.

  • Each claim will depend on the number of valid claims submitted.
  • Additionally, each claim will be determined by the number of products purchased, called a “weighted value.”
  • Class Members can claim up to 10 products without proof of purchase; claims without proof of purchase over 10 products will be averaged and added to a weighted value.
Proof of Purchase

No proof required.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

01/09/2021

Case Name

Richard Winters v. Two Towns Ciderhouse Inc., Case No. 3:20-cv-00468-BAS-BGS, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Final Hearing

05/10/2021

Settlement Website
Claims Administrator

2 Towns Ciderhouse Settlement
c/o Postlethwaite & Netterville
PO Box 1228
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
claims@CiderSettlement.com
1-833-343-1076

Class Counsel

LAW OFFICES OF TODD M. FRIEDMAN P.C.

Defense Counsel

COBLENTZ PATCH DUFFY & BASS LLP

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90 thoughts on2 Towns Ciderhouse Hard Cider Class Action Settlement

  1. Leslie G says:

    Just received my paper check of $11.80 in southern California

  2. Jeff says:

    Aug 7, 2021: Just received my 2 Towns Ciderhouse check. $20.23.
    Thanks again, and again TCA! Keep at it for us!

  3. Kim says:

    Got 27.00 bucks from pay pal today thank u !!

  4. Kari says:

    I received $14.97 via PayPal today in IL. Thanks TCA :)

  5. Sayala says:

    Just got $12.94 via PayPal

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.