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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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634 thoughts onPanini Trading Cards, Topps Class Action Lawsuits Claim Redemption Cards An Unlawful Lottery
I am life long collector of sports cards this is so upsetting to see. Boxes are so expensive now you go to a hobby shop pay 1k on box hit a ha morant in redemption as soon as they come out 2 years later nothing. Show nothing in system anymore call nothing leave messages nothing. I have at least 6 redemptions that they are never coming it feels. They are charging way to much to not receive what they say you should have
I am a buyer of both Topps and panini. I currently am waiting on 3 Luka doncic redemtions. All 3 are about a year and waiting. I cannot get ahold of customer service. When I call and wait get sent to voicemail. I have left both voicemail and email no response back. Status just says in progress.
Hello. I have an active redemption exceeding 5 years of an unknown and a Wander Franco serial numbered Auto redemption going on over a year. Many time I reached out via email and left messages on vm. Crickets. Ugh. Is there no oversight?
There is none. They stole my /10 Bradley Chubb Longevity Auto and sent a $2 Henry Ruggs The Rookies insert (pre manslaughter) in its place. 3 more months of hounding every @panini email I could get my hands on, someone finally moved and sent me a Dobbins Auto and Dobbins /50 Zenith RC. Against better judgement,I booked 8 redemptions of Kyle Pitts and Rashod Bateman. Wouldn’t you know it, 4 cheapest ones arrived and still waiting for the 4 high valued ones which they likely stole. I will gladfully sign a lawsuit as they owe me $300 worth of autographs that I paid for. We complete with bots and despotism it this hobby just to get robbed by the manufacturer?! Also, 2020 Contenders and the Panini points instead of autographs isn’t on the boxes. We got more points than autographs which are bait and switch and against the law. This company is repeatedly breaking the law and stealing from their customer base. I am longing to rectify these issues and get justice served.
I am eagerly waiting on a ONE of ONE redemption. Since it’s a 1/1 their are no comps and I could have easily sold it for around $2,000 on eBay. I have lost all faith in panini. How tough would it be for them to hire people just to clear up backlog redemptions. They make millions everyday. Please add me to lawsuit.
Topps offers a chance for people who don’t wish to buy packs or boxes to recieve the exact same cards that come in each pack at the same odds. That’s what the Math Equation on the back of the packs is for. You solve the problem, write your answer along with your info on a 3″×5″ index card and mail it to Topps where they put all the Index cards in a hat and have a drawing to see who wins some free stuff from Topps. They won’t win this lawsuit against Topps.
Add me to the lawsuit too. I won an auction on eBay for Lamelo Ball Panini contenders variation rookie auto gold/10 card. I haven’t been waiting as long as some of you, but its been 6 months. Panini won’t answer the phone, and the don’t return emails. I wanted to go to the National Card Show last month to talk to someone there, but don’t know if it would have done any good anyways.
I don’t want panini points, and if they are going to give me something similar in value, it better be in the neighborhood of around $13000 dollars. I used to be a collector of cards/memorabilia well over 30 years ago. I started collecting again as an investment. I wish I would have known this stuff was going on with Panini, otherwise I wouldn’t have at this point, wasted money on a card I may never get now. I am sitting on 30 boxes of unopened panini contenders football/basketball boxes, which I am now just going to sell. I am done with collecting at this point.
There is no oversight. They stole my /10 Bradley Chubb Longevity Auto and sent a $2 Henry Ruggs The Rookies insert (pre manslaughter) in its place. 3 more months of hounding every @panini email I could get my hands on, someone finally moved and sent me a Dobbins Auto and Dobbins /50 Zenith RC. Against better judgement,I booked 8 redemptions of Kyle Pitts and Rashod Bateman. Wouldn’t you know it, 4 cheapest ones arrived and still waiting for the 4 high valued ones which they likely stole. I will gladfully sign a lawsuit as they owe me $300 worth of autographs that I paid for. We complete with bots and despotism it this hobby just to get robbed by the manufacturer?! Also, 2020 Contenders and the Panini points instead of autographs isn’t on the boxes. We got more points than autographs which are bait and switch and against the law. This company is repeatedly breaking the law and stealing from their customer base. I am longing to rectify these issues and get justice served.
Waiting 720 days on my Giannis Antetokounmpo from Panini.
Just terrible
This sounds like the lawsuit that teenage put against Pacific for buying $10,000 worth of cards back in 1999, expecting to gain monetary value. It was those ornaments cards in Pacific prism. These guys I don’t think succeeded.
Over 8 months have 4 outstanding redemptions. Sent messages, emails to everyone in the company. Call daily and leave voicemails. Completely ignored.
I have three redemptions that I’ve been waiting eight months for. I’ve sent nine messages that went left without response. Within the eight months, (not long compared to a lot of others) I’ve watched Panini consistently roll out new products with these same player autographs and completely sweep my obligation under the rug. I would like to join this class action as this company has, and continues to; manipulate, mislead and blatantly lie to their customers.
I have 4 redemptions not yet filled and I am being told now I will receive “Panini Points” instead of the card on the redemption. I have sent out emails and update request to Panini and never hear any thing back from them. I would like to see how this lawsuit goes cause I might just be filing one myself.
Their redemption program is such as scam. I’ve been waiting forever for my cards from Panini. I doubt I’ll be getting them. They will just wait it out until their contract with the NBA and other leagues expire – and then it’s not their problem anymore.
Such bullsh!t