Judge Awards Customers $4 Million Settlement After Class Action Lawsuit Claimed Grocery Store Advertised Fake Discounts on Alcohol
(Photo: Schnucks)
A St. Louis circuit judge awarded customers a $4 million settlement in a case against Schnuck Markets Inc. The class action lawsuit claimed Schnucks misled customers by inflating the original price of alcohol to make sales appear like a better deal. The judge also ordered the grocery store to pay an additional $1.32 million in attorney fees.
The Schnuck family founded the grocery chain in north St. Louis in 1939. According to the lawsuit the Schnucks violated Missouri law by advertising its alcohol with false and misleading price comparisons.
The plaintiff, Leonard Perry claimed he bought a bottle of rosé wine from a Schnucks that was on sale for $15.99 with the regular price of $28.99, and another bottle on sale for $13.99 with the regular price of $30.99. Perry alleged the store “hardly, if ever” sold the alcohol for the larger sticker price. The store made it seem like he saved $30 for his purchases but this perception was false and misleading.
Initially, Schnuck Markets Inc. argued it the stores did not violate the law and did nothing wrong. However, the store, after some mediation, agreed to a settlement of $4 million. The settlement covered Missouri residents who purchased wine or spirits from Schnucks between Dec. 3, 2015 and Feb. 15, 2023.
Members of the lawsuit could receive a payment of $11, $25 or $72 depending on proof of purchase made within the allotted timeline. Court records show more than 172,000 claims were submitted.
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