Target class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A Target customer filed a class action lawsuit against Target Corp.
- Why: The plaintiff claims Target owes consumers a refund from unlawful tariffs imposed on imported goods and U.S.–sourced goods.
- Where: The Target class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.
A new class action lawsuit claims Target owes consumers a refund after allegedly collecting millions of dollars by raising prices on imported and locally sourced goods in response to tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump that were later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Plaintiff Patricia Cavallaro filed the class action complaint against Target on July 21 in New York federal court, alleging violations of state consumer protection laws.
According to the class action lawsuit, Target collected hundreds of millions of dollars by raising prices on imported goods and U.S.–sourced goods while the tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration — which were ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court in February — were in effect.
Cavallaro argues the refund process established by the federal government after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs provides that only the importer of record is entitled to apply for and receive a refund for money paid to import goods.
She claims Target shifted the cost of these tariffs to consumers by way of price increases to products both subject to tariffs and those not subject to tariffs.
“[Target] has not returned any portion of those costs it passed to consumers, and it has no intention of doing so,” the tariff lawsuit says. “It has, in short, generated and retained a windfall from unlawful government action, and consumers — not [Target] — are the ones left paying for it.”
Target class action: Consumers bore economic burden of Trump-era tariffs
Cavallaro claims Target collected tariff costs from consumers on goods subject to tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act as well as on goods not subject to tariffs under the act.
The plaintiff argues consumers who bore the true economic burden have no direct avenue for redress — they lack both a statutory cause of action in the U.S. Court of International Trade and standing to seek a refund.
“That right belongs exclusively to the [importer of record],” the Target class action lawsuit says. “In this case, [Target] or its agents, regardless of who actually paid.”
Cavallaro wants to represent anyone who, between Feb. 4, 2025, and Feb. 20, 2026, purchased from Target a good subject to tariffs at a price Target increased to pass on the tariffs assessed on that good.
The plaintiff also wants to represent anyone who, from Feb. 4, 2025, through Feb. 20, 2026, purchased U.S.-sourced goods or products from Target at a price Target increased to spread, recover or offset tariff costs incurred on its imported goods.
In another Target class action, a consumer claims the company deceptively advertised the dosage amount of its Up&Up ashwagandha gummies.
What do you think of the claims made in this Target class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Hunter J. Shkolnik, Salvatore C. Badala and Shayna E. Sacks of Napoli Shkolnik.
The Target class action lawsuit is Cavallaro v. Target Corp., Case No. 7:26-cv-06165, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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