Kirin Beer False Advertising Class Action Settlement Pays Out

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Readers of Top Class Actions are reporting that they are receiving checks in the mail from a class action settlement related to the labeling of Kirin beer. The settlement resolves allegations Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC misleadingly gave consumers the impression its Kirin Ichiban beer is brewed in Japan when it is actually made in the United States.

November is off to a good start for many of our viewers, who have reported receiving as much as $12 from the Kirin beer class action settlement:

The Kirin beer class action lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs Lady Suarez and Gustavo Oliva, who alleged that Anheuser-Busch included misleading language on its Kirin beer products to make consumers think the beer was made in Japan. Although Kirin Ichiban beer was previously brewed in Japan, Anheuser-Busch currently brews the beer in the United States per an agreement it made with Kirin Brewery Co. in 1996 and again in 2006.

Although the Kirin beer bottles did include a statement indicating the beer was brewed in Virginia, the class action lawsuit alleged that the language was in small print. Further, because the relevant language was included on the bottle and not the packaging, consumers would allegedly not see it until they had already purchased the beer.

The Kirin beer class action lawsuit alleged Anheuser-Busch violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Anheuser-Busch denies the allegations but agreed to settle the Kirin beer class action lawsuit to avoid the cost and risk of trial. The Kirin class action settlement was preliminarily approved in December 2014.

Class Members of the Kirin class action settlement include all consumers who purchased Kirin Ichiban beer or Kirin Light beer brewed and sold by Anheuser-Busch in the United States between Oct. 25, 2009 and Dec. 17, 2014.

Under the terms of the Kirin beer settlement, Class Members who filed timely and valid claims were eligible to receive a maximum of $50 if they submitted proof of purchase, or up to $12 without proof of purchase.

The deadline to file a claim for the Kirin beer class action settlement passed on June 15, 2015.

Congratulations to our Top Class Actions readers who submitted a valid claim and got PAID! If you missed out, sign up for our free newsletter to receive updates on new class action lawsuits and settlements. You can also check out which class action settlements are still accepting claims in our Open Class Action Settlements section.

Suarez and Oliva are represented by Lance A. Harke and Howard M. Bushman of Harke Clasby & Bushman LLP, by Thomas A. Tucker Ronzetti, Adam M. Moskowitz and Tal Lifshitz of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton PA, and by Robert W. Rodriguez.

The Kirin Beer Class Action Lawsuit is Gustavo E. Olivia, et al. v. Anheuser-Busch Companies LLC, Case No. 13-033620 CA 01, in the Circuit Court in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida.