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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 have a panini black Jamar Chase I still haven’t got off a redemption yet. Tried contacting them over and over again. This is bs and wish something could be done about it
I have been experiencing the exact same issue. 18+ months have passed, 6+ “inquires” submitted, and not a damn word from Panini. #discraceful
They told me they DONT even look at the replies!! I just talked to them today. 11-17-22. Read my above comment please. Important info they dont have posted!!!
Panini needs to get sued immediately! Not just for the lack there of redemption cards, but for the fact of false advertisement! I ordered 5 boxes of 2022 Panini Chronicles at the VERY SECOND it was available. The very next day “Jabs Family” decides to do a break with guess what type of product?? you guessed it, 2022 chronicles. Not only did they pull a 1/1 but MULTIPLE cards of Jrod, Wander, Tork and Ohtani Jersey cards FROM ONE BOX…meanwhile they have 5 freakin cases full of this product..how??? the release to the public was literally yesterday! So immediately purchasing this product, you are already at a deficit and false advertisement, 0, absolutely ZERO chances at pulling that 1/1 Wander Franco Print plate, and decreased all your chances on the multiple Jrod and Wander franco variations to include various autos. This is literally displaying unlawful lottery of cards and fraudulent advertisement at its best and a pure marketing scam!!! they are literally using these breakers as pure marketing scams in hopes to boost sales. How else can they get CASES within 12 hrs of actual release and pull those numbers of massive hits within 4 boxes…1 box mind you had all the wander and Ohtani jersey card to include multiple Jrods. This is absolutely horrific for the hobby, and most importantly absolutely terrible for the kids who are looking to break into the hobby, save up their allowance to buy these boxes to only find out they have ZERO chances at any of the big hits cause they sold those chances to their marketing scams. This is blatant and OBVIOUS and in plain site! I will be calling them on Monday in hopes to get a refund for all my boxes, as I want no part in Panini AT ALL. only way I would keep my order if they can prove to me somehow or someway how the “Jabs Family” scammed their way into so many cases before the masses, and how my chances are the same as any other person who purchased their boxes on the release date. Otherwise I will be calling the police and going through my CC company and will file a complaint on the BBB website. I might even call my lawyer and see what damages they may have caused considering. I might also report the Jabs Family to the IRS, as I doubt they are claiming their breaks with the IRS and all the money they are pulling from these marketing scams.
And THIS is why i hate breakers. ALL the card companies do this!! We just get the crumbs
A few days ago I opened a pack of 2020 Topps Archives and received a redemption that expired on 1/31/2022 for Buster Posey. I have not been able to find any information that the card was everproduced and fufilled. If this had been delivered before the deadline there would have been an potion for a different card of equal or greater value. Given that the redempiont clearly states that “You are due to recieve” a card, expired cards may not be eligible for the redemption item, but they should still be honored as a redemption for a card of equal or greater value.
I have 2 redemption I have been waiting on that haven’t come. I tried contacting Panini by phone and email with no luck.
Me as well going on 3-4 yrs got 2 Topps and some panini
I have been waiting for a Justin Fields 2021 Playoff Contenders Cracked Card now for over 7 months. Since March 2022
Worse company ever as far as contacting them.
Also Have a Penei Sewell Playoff Contenders from 2021 in their queue since July 2022 and a Drake Jackson since September 2022
I understand that players may not fulfill their contracts, if thats the case then replace the card and keep your customers up to date.
They say 6-8 weeks for redemptions, but from what I read hear it may be more like 6-8 years.
I just got my Trevor Lawrence auto rookie card in orange mosiac. It took also a year, guess looking at it I got lucky. I read an interesting article about redemptions, it’s very complicated. Not always Panini’s fault because they also rely on the players themselves.
And the value of the card has sharply declined. That seems like missed money. Probably worth suing for
I have thousands of dollars worth of redemptions some over a year old with no contact by panini .. I have spent a lot of money on their products and what they’re doing should be illegal
Please read what i posted above. This was what they told me today on the phone. After calling over 400x i finally got ahold of someone and was treaded like crap!!
I’ve waited about 4 years to get two Redemption cards filled, which were both Matt Harvey Auto’s, so eventually about 4 years later they were filled, but, another issue is that when you buy packs that are 3 years old and you get a Redemption card instead of an actual in hand autograph that should have been in the packs, then you are screwed and cannot get that autograph, which is BS!!!!! I still have a few Redemption cards that have never been scratched off and can’t redeem because the Redemption card had expired but was sold like that in the boxes I bought off of eBay. So, I’m wondering if this can be brought up and added as part of the class action lawsuits? What do you think? And how can I join this lawsuit???
3 redemptions, 1 at 2 yrs, 1 at 18months, 1 at 1 yr… And can’t get any reply from panini, as stated by previous, they don’t care about us in Australia… Not to mention it’s Luis Robert, Alec Bohm(not real fussed, already asked for replacement, 6 months ago. Still nothing) and JaMarr Chase… Is there a class action I can join
I’m from Australia and we often get forgotten down here..
I have 7 redemptions waiting to be filled. I have emailed them countless times but still, nothing.
I have a value of 4k+ in cards that at this rate they won’t be filled.
Really I want them to pay for what they have failed to do.
Have 10 Justin Fields and Tyler Herro rookie auto redemptions that have been in que for 8 months. This is ridiculous.
Also have a Jabril Peppers Auto I submitted in 2017. Finally broke down 4 months ago and requested a replacement and have received nothing.
And u wont for up to 1 and 1/2 years from now. Per their conversation with me today! Read what i wrote above. Talked to them today!
The Tyler Herron should have already been there is it was a rookie auto and you only redeemed 8 months ago, considering he was a 19/20 rook