Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
A federal judge has preliminarily approved a $3.25 million settlement in a nationwide consumer class action over TRESemme brand shampoos and conditioners that were allegedly falsely advertising as being “natural” when the products actually contained synthetic ingredients.
Judge William B. Shubb of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued an order to preliminarily certify the deal Tuesday, approving the class action settlement between consumers and Unilever, the maker of TRESemme shampoos and conditioners, resolving a two-year legal battle.
The settlement Class includes any individual in the U.S. who purchased TRESemme Naturals products including Nourishing Moisture Shampoo, Radiant Volume Shampoo, Vibrantly Smooth Shampoo and their matching conditioners while they were still being sold.
In August 2013, plaintiffs Alba Morales and Lainie Cohen, later joined by Linda Clayman and Kenneth Drew brought this class action lawsuit against Unilever on behalf of a group of consumers who purchased TRESemme Naturals products.
The TRESemme Naturals line was marketed and advertised with a campaign centered around the representation that these shampoos and conditioners were “natural.”
According to the plaintiffs, these advertisements were misleading because the TRESemme products contained a long list of synthetic ingredients, including a chemical known to release formaldehyde, ammonium laureth sulfate, DMDM hydantoin and dipropylene glycol, that are not “natural.”
The plaintiffs claim that Unilever violated California’s Unfair Competition Laws and other state consumer protection laws by engaging in false and misleading advertising with the knowledge that consumers would willingly pay a premium for products they believe to be natural.
“Companies such as Unilever have capitalized on consumer appetite for ‘natural products,'” the April 2014 second amended complaint said. “Indeed, consumers are willing to pay, and have paid, a premium for products branded ‘natural’ over ordinary products that contain synthetic ingredients.”
Last December, Unilever discontinued TRESemme Naturals products in response to the litigation, according to court documents.
The settlement agreement is expected to provide Class Members with a maximum of $5 per bottle of TRESemme Naturals for up to $10 bottles per household without proof of purchase and a collective incentive award of up to $15,000 to the named plaintiffs.
While Judge Shubb noted that the settlement appears to be on the low-end of the expected recovery range and the deal contains a potentially unfair opt-in/opt-out requirement, the uncertainty of further litigation justifies the recovery.
For instance, Judge Shubb wrote, “Plaintiffs’ counsel contends that plaintiffs would have been required to prove both that the TRESemme Naturals labeling was likely to deceive or confuse reasonable persons and that those representations are material to reasonable persons.”
Additionally, the judge stated, “Further, establishing that all class members paid a price premium that was directly related to the product being ‘natural,’ rather than because of some other characteristic of the product, and quantifying this premium would have involved a battle of the experts.”
The final fairness hearing is set for Oct. 17, 2016.
Instructions on how to file a claim for the TRESemme Naturals class action settlement were not immediately available. Keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter for the latest updates. You can also “Follow” this case using your free Top Class Actions account to receive notifications when this article is updated.
The TRESemme consumers are represented by Mark P. Kindall and Robert A. Izard of Izard Nobel LLP, Alan R. Plutzik and Michael S. Strimling of Bramson Plutzik Mahler & Birkhaeuser LLP, Joseph J. DePalma and Katrina Carroll of Lite DePalma Greenberg LLP and Nicole A. Veno of the Law Office of Nicole Veno.
The TRESemme Class Action Lawsuit is Alba Morales, et al. v. ConopCo Inc, Case No. 2:13-cv-02213, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
UPDATE: On Feb. 6, 2017, Top Class Actions viewers who submitted claims for the TRESemmé class action settlement starting receiving checks worth as much as $7.97!
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
82 thoughts onTRESemme Naturals Class Action Settlement Deal Preliminarily Approved
I have been using Tressemme shampoo and conditioner for years. Noticed I was having quite a bit of hair loss. But never realized it was due to this until I finally changed in my products.
I have been using Tresemme Shampoo and conditioner for many years. It has been my favorite since Finesse went out of business.
I noticed that my hair has been falling out with having to clean out my hairbrush every week.
Add me please
Have been using it tresemme products for years and have suffered hair loss.. please add me to this .
Please add me to this list. I have used Tresemme products for the past 15-20 years with steady hair loss to the point of considering a wig.
i have been loosing hair for the last 5 years and been thru test, stopped coloring my hair , changed diet. just cut what is left off short. was talking to my daughter about buying a wig. and then i see this.
Please add me to this list. I have been using Tresemme products for several years and I have seen a bald spot starting to form on the top back of my head.
I’ve used this product for a couple months, and i now have a couple bald spots. i have never in my life have experience this, this has cause depression. i am now so insecure of going out without a hat, i went from having long thick hair from thin hair with bald spots. PLEASE ADD ME.
Please add me I have been using this hai product for years and in the last year I have been having a lot of hair loss and dry scalp
Plz add me to the lawsuit ive used for many many years. Went from full thick hair to very thin and bald multiple bald spots..
I have been using this product for almost two years. I have had severe hair loss and the doctor kept thinking it was due to my thyroid. I lose so much hair as does my son and we both use this product. I went from very thick curly hair to thin hair. Often comes in clumps, colts our drains terribly. My scalp always feels itchy and like it’s burning. I have switched to a new product with the hope I can get my thick head of hair back.