Waggin’ Train, Purina to Settle Jerky Treat Class Action Lawsuits

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Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Waggin’ Train LLC have agreed to pay $6.5 million to settle three class action lawsuits with consumers who believe their animals were harmed after eating jerky treats that were made in China. The class action lawsuits blamed the nation’s largest makers of jerky treats for the illness and death of more than 1,000 pets.

Nestle Purina and Waggin’ Train have denied any wrongdoing, but agreed to settle the jerky treat class action lawsuits to avoid the uncertainty and expense of ongoing litigation. The dog treats covered under the terms of the class action settlement include any dog treat product imported from China (or containing any ingredient imported from China) that is distributed under the brand names Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch.

The proposed class action settlement will allow consumers to submit claims for compensation. Under the terms of the jerky treat settlement, Class Members will be able to claim 100 percent of their reasonable economic damages related to an injury or illness suffered by their pets after consuming the dog treats. If the number of accepted claims exceeds the class action settlement funds available, awards will be distributed on a pro rata basis.

Class Members who submit valid Claim Forms will receive a full or pro rata reimbursement for veterinary bills for all screening, examinations, diagnostics, procedures, treatment and medication related to a pet’s consumption of a dog treat product. Class Members who submit valid Claim Forms for a deceased pet will also be eligible for reimbursement for veterinary expenses as well as reimbursement for costs related to the death of the pet (necropsy, euthanasia, cremation or burial services) and reimbursement for the cost or fair market value of the pet. The class action settlement will also reimburse Class Members on a full or pro rata basis for the actual cost of purchase of the dog treat products as long as they haven’t already been reimbursed.

If the class action settlement is approved, Nestle Purina will be required to modify language on the jerky treat packaging and to implement enhanced quality control measures regarding pet treats made in China.

Purina and Waggin’ Train agreed to settle the class action lawsuit just two weeks after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said that the jerky treats had been linked to the deaths of more than 1,000 dogs. PetSmart and Petco have announced that they will no longer sell jerky treats made in China.

Since 2007, the FDA has warned consumers about growing reports of illness in pets that ate sweet potato, chicken and other jerky treat products that were made in China. However, no cause was found for the illnesses despite extensive testing.

We have extensively covered jerky treats class action lawsuits here: Purina Waggin’ Train Dog Treat Class Action lawsuit to Proceed, Waggin’ Train Dog Treat Class Action Lawsuit, Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Class Action Lawsuit, Second Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Class Action Lawsuit Filed, Dog Died From Waggin’ Train Dog Treats, Class Action Says.

More information about the jerky treat 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 Edelman Combs Latturner & Goodwin LLC, Brown Paindiris & Scott LLP, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, The Clark Law Firm and Thomas G. Morrissey Ltd.

The  Waggin’ Train, Purina Jerky Treat Class Action Lawsuits are Adkins v. Nestle Purina PetCare Co., et al., Case No. 12-cv-2871, Gandara v. Nestle Purina PetCare Co., et al., Case No. 13-cv-4159, and Matin v. Nestle Purina PetCare Co., et al., Case No. 13-cv-1512, all in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

UPDATE: Instructions on how to file a claim for the Waggin’ Tails, Canyon Creek Ranch dog treat settlement are now available! Click here or visit www.DogTreatProductsSettlement.com for details.

UPDATE 2: An appeal to the dog treat class action settlement was dismissed on Dec. 10, 2015, meaning that checks may soon be mailed to Class Members who filed valid claims.

UPDATE 3: On Mar. 21, 2016, Top Class Actions readers started receiving checks in the mail from this class action settlement worth as much as $300.