Shell Reaches $2.2M ‘Free’ Ski Ticket Class Action Settlement

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Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products US has reached a proposed $2.2 million class action settlement agreement over allegations it misrepresented the terms of a “free” ski lift ticket to customers who bought 10 gallons of gas, according to a motion filed last week seeking preliminary approval of the deal.

If approved, this settlement will resolve a class action lawsuit alleging Shell and OutWest Promotions engaged in a deceptive and misleading “Ski Free” advertising campaign, which ran from 2010 through 2014 in California, Michigan, Oregon and Washington.

According to the Shell free skiing promotion class action lawsuit, the defendants engaged in a print campaign at participating Shell gas stations in which consumers were exposed to promotional signs that stated: “Ski Free with Purchase.” The plaintiffs asserted that this phrasing was misleading because it implied that only one purchase was needed.

In reality, the Shell class action lawsuit claimed that consumers needed to purchase fuel and one full-price adult lift ticket in order to receive a free lift ticket. The plaintiffs alleged that none of the signage or other promotional material indicated that the deal was essentially a buy one get one free offer. As a result, the plaintiffs say that they didn’t learn that the voucher they received was not a free lift ticket until they attempted to redeem the voucher at a ski resort.

The Shell free lift ticket class action lawsuit was initially filed in Oregon federal court in February 2014. Additional Class representatives were added to the litigation, and the plaintiffs filed a motion for Class certification in December 2015. Subsequently, the parties agreed to engage in mediation, and reached a tentative settlement agreement in February.

According to the ski free settlement documents, the plaintiffs are seeking Class certification for individuals in the states of California, Michigan, Oregon and Washington who, since Nov. 1, 2009, purchased 10 or more gallons at a Shell gas station that offered the “Ski Free” promotion and obtained a “Ski Free” voucher.

Under the terms of the proposed class action settlement, Shell will establish a $2.2 million Settlement Fund that will be used to provide payment to claimants. Eligible Class Members would be able to claim up to $40 from the proposed Shell Ski Free class action settlement.

More information about the Shell class action settlement was not immediately available. Keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter for the latest updates. You can also mark this article as a “Favorite” using your free Top Class Actions account to receive notifications when this article is updated.

The plaintiffs are represented by Rick Klingbeil of Rick Klingbeil PC, Brady Mertz of Brady Mertz PC, Brooks Cooper of Draneas & Huglin PC and Robert Curtis of Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis LLP.

The Shell ‘Free’ Ski Lift Ticket Class Action Lawsuit is Kearney, et al. v. Equilon Enterprises LLC, et al., Case No. 3:14-cv-00254, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

UPDATE: The Shell Ski Free class action settlement is now open! Click here to file a claim!

UPDATE 2: On Dec. 17, 2016, Top Class Actions readers who submitted valid claims for the Shell class action settlement started receiving checks worth as much as $40! Congratulations to all our viewers who got PAID!