Abraham Jewett  |  March 22, 2022

Category: Legal News

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A view of a several brands of sports trading cards on display at a local department store.
(Photo Credit: TonelsonProductions/Shutterstock)

Topps, Panini Redemption Cards Class Action Lawsuits Overview: 

  • Who: Belinda Wheeler filed separate class action lawsuits against Panini America, Inc., and The Topps Company, Inc. 
  • Why: Wheeler claims redemption cards sold in trading card packs by Topps and Panini constitute an unlawful lottery.
  • Where: The class action lawsuits were filed in New York and District of Columbia federal courts.

Redemption cards sold in trading card packs by Panini America and The Topps Company constitute an unlawful lottery and violate federal and state law, two new class action lawsuits allege.

Plaintiff Belinda Wheeler argued in separate complaints filed against Panini and Topps that redemption cards, which may come within a pack and allow a consumer to obtain a “random speciality card”,” constitute an “unlawful lottery” since non-purchasers are not given an option to enter. 

“Federal and state law require that a contest which offers a chance at winning a thing of value permit any person to enter, regardless of whether they purchased the item in question,” the class action lawsuits state. 

Wheeler claims the packaging for Topps and Panini brand trading cards highlights that they contain redemption cards; however, neither fails to display no purchase necessary (NPN) information in a “clear and conspicuous manner” as required by law. 

“NPN instructions are required to be equally prominent to other methods of entry and cannot place a non-purchaser at a disadvantage relative to a purchaser,” the class action lawsuits state. 

Topps, Panini Consumers Unaware They Don’t Legally Need To Purchase, Class Action Says 

By failing to highlight NPN information, consumers are unaware that they would not legally need to purchase the product to obtain a redemption card, the class action lawsuits allege.

Further, Wheeler argues that a consumer would be unable to purchase and return the product to obtain the NPN instructions since returning packs of trading cards is not allowed. 

“By requiring purchase of the Product and rendering it difficult to impossible for nonpurchasers to obtain the redemption cards, consumers are misled to purchase items they otherwise would not have to at higher prices,” the class action lawsuits state. 

Wheeler argues consumers end up erroneously believing that the only way for them to enter a redemption card contest, and have an equal chance of winning, is by purchasing the trading card pack.

“Plaintiff did not have to purchase the Products to enter the contests, but due to the practices described here, was not given another reasonable option,” the class action lawsuits state. 

Wheeler claims Topps and Panini are both guilty of unjust enrichment and in violation of, among other things, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and multiple state consumer fraud acts.

Wheeler wants to represent a District of Columbia class and multistate subclass of consumers who have purchased either Topps or Panini brand trading cards.

Plaintiff is demanding jury trials in both complaints and requesting injunctive relief along with monetary, statutory and/or punitive damages for themselves and all class members. 

Have you purchased Topps and/or Panini brand trading cards? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Scott C. Borison of Borison Firm, LLC,; Steffan T. Keeton of The Keeton Firm LLC; and Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C. 

The Class Action Lawsuits are Wheeler v. Panini America, Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-00763, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; and Wheeler v. The Topps Company, Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-02264, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. 


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633 thoughts onPanini Trading Cards, Topps Class Action Lawsuits Claim Redemption Cards An Unlawful Lottery

  1. Jason James says:

    I’ve purchased tons of Panini and Topps packs. Spending thousands of dollars to get a redemption. The ones I did find in packs I still haven’t received! They need to pay us all back…

  2. Richard says:

    Still hoping and wishing one day a law firm will take up a class action against Topps for their debacle that was eTopps. I still have over 11,000 cards in port. `

  3. Aggie Ammo says:

    Waiting over 2 years for a $1000+ card, all emails ignored. One reply blamed the Pandemic!!

  4. David curran says:

    Can I get involved with a panini class action suit, if yes information is available where???

  5. David curran says:

    I just got a 600 pt redemption in a $400 dollar box of gold standard , so I went to the website to to see what magnificent cards could be acquired with my points , well disappointed is not the word I wood use , disgusted would be more appropriate , they have cards of players who never even played a down in a regular season game. This reward program lets you stick your hand in the panini toilet and pulled out some shit that is worthless. No where on the box does it say anything about this. So my $400 box of cards gave me two autographs/ 2 mem cards/2 regular cards , and the redemption card,lol, absolutely no value there, shame on me for expecting an honest end of the deal from panini, no more purchases with these liars, excuse me , panini is what I meant to say.

  6. Andrew says:

    I have multiple redemption cards with Panini and Topps. I have seen other Panini and Topps cards (same year even) signed by the athlete but still unfulfilled. I have reached out multiple times with each company, only to be given the run around and a ‘case ticket’ is being opened. I also have a ticket for Panini on a hobby box(which is never cheap!!!) where I was shorted an auto. I would love to be added to any class action. I feel for the price we pay for these hobby boxes, the customer should not be cheated or have to wait for a redemption to be filled.

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