A $5.5 million class action settlement has been reached with Southern Wines over allegations that the company violated California consumer protection laws. This class action lawsuit is against Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc., now known as Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (“Southern”). The lawsuit claims that Southern charged more than allowed for late fees on wine, beer, and liquor purchases. Specifically, Southern allegedly charged 2% on late payments, while California law only allows a 1% per month late fee. The case covers California customers of Southern from June 13, 2010, through June 30, 2023.
You qualify for a payout if you were a California customer of Southern during the period from June 13, 2010, through June 30, 2023, and paid late fees. You don’t need to do anything to participate in the settlement – you’ll be automatically included unless you opted out by July 25, 2024. You can opt out on the official Southern Wines open class action settlement site (see below).
The settlement includes a $5.5 million payment from Southern. Each qualifying class member will receive at least $10, with the exact amount depending on how much you paid in late fees during the settlement period. Additionally, Southern has agreed to write off $44.1 million in pending late fees.
You don’t need to file a claim. If you qualify, you’ll automatically receive a payment based on Southern’s records of the late fees you paid. However, if you received your mailed notice after June 25, 2024, you have until July 25, 2024, to opt out or object to the settlement if you choose to do so.
Please be aware that your claim form will be rejected if it contains fraudulent information. By submitting your information and your sworn statement of its accuracy, you are agreeing to do so under penalty of perjury. Submitting false information not only jeopardizes your claim but also affects others who are genuinely eligible for the settlement. If you are uncertain about your eligibility for this class action settlement, please visit the class action administrator’s website for more information. Note that NoProofClassActions.org participates in the Amazon affiliate advertising program, and this post may include affiliate links, which could result in us earning a commission if you make a purchase through those links.