Becker v. Massimo Zanetti, Mother Parkers and Reily Foods

You may be a Class Member in a proposed Settlement regarding alleged false, misleading and deceptive Labeling found on the following brands of ground coffee Products: Great Value, Bonus Blend, Flavor Peak, Food Lion, Hannaford, Market Pantry, and Signature Select (“Products”). 

This Website and the Notice explains the nature of the Lawsuits and claims being settled, your legal rights, and the Benefits to the Class.

Judge William E. Hickle of the Circuit Court of Phelps County, Missouri is overseeing this class action. The case is known as Molly Becker, et al., v. Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, Inc., Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee USA, Ltd., and Reily Foods Company. The people who sued are called the “Plaintiffs,” and the companies they sued are called the “Defendants.”

Plaintiffs Molly Becker, Sonja Bolerjack, Frank Gonzalez, Vincent Lebrecht, Maria McBain, Victoria Rodgers, Pamela Smythe, and Robin White filed a lawsuit against Defendants Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, Inc., Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee USA, Ltd., and Reily Foods Company, individually and on behalf of a anyone who purchased the Products for personal use between January 1, 2016 and July 29, 2020.  

The lawsuit alleges that the Defendants improperly labeled, packaged, marketed and advertised the Products as containing enough coffee such that it makes up to a certain number of cups. Defendants deny any wrongdoing.  

By agreeing to settle, both sides avoid the cost, disruption, and distraction of further litigation. The Class Representatives, Defendants, and their attorneys believe the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate and, thus, best for the Class Members.

The Court did not decide in favor of the Plaintiffs or Defendants. 

Full details about the proposed Settlement are found in the Settlement Agreement available on this Website.

In a class action, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of all people who have similar claims.  All of these people together are the “Class” or “Class Members.”

You are included in this Settlement as a Class Member if you live in the United States and purchased any of the Products from January 1, 2016 through July 29, 2020. 

If you are not sure whether you are in the Class, or have any other questions about the Settlement, read this Website, or write with questions to  Becker v. Massimo, Mother Parkers and Reily Foods, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 34685, Philadelphia, PA. 19101-4685 or call toll free 1-844-491-5742 .

The proposed Settlement, if approved by the Court, will provide the following Benefits:

1. Labeling Practices: Defendants have agreed to change their Labeling practices.

2. Individual Claims: Class Members are eligible for payments with or without Proof of Purchase:        

     Tier 1 - Claims without Proof of Purchase:
     You can get up to $1 per Unit for up to $5 maximum per Household.

     Tier 2 - Claims with Proof of Purchase:
     You can get up to $1 per Unit for up to $30 maximum per Household.

Only one Claim may be submitted per Household under either Tier 1 or Tier 2 and final amounts paid may be reduced based on total number of Claims Received. You must file a Claim to get any money from the proposed Settlement. The Deadline to submit a Claim is November 18, 2020. 

You must submit a Claim Form, with or without Proof of Purchase, in order to be eligible to receive any money from the Settlement, if it is approved. You can submit claim online, download a Claim Form located in the Document section of this Website or you can call the Settlement Administrator at  1-844-491-5742 to request a Claim Form.

Your Claim Form must be postmarked or submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Time by November 18, 2020.

Unless you exclude yourself, you will be included as part of the Settlement Class, if the Settlement is approved. By staying in the Class, you will be eligible to receive Benefits included in the Settlement to which you are entitled, and you will be releasing Defendants and all Released Parties from any liability, cause of action, claim, right to damages or other relief, and any other legal rights to which you may otherwise be entitled under the law(s) of your state or any other applicable law. 

This means that you will no longer be able to sue Defendants or any of the other Released Parties, including retailers who sell the Products manufactured by Defendants, which retailers include Walmart Inc., Target Corporation, Food Lion LLC, Hannaford Bros. Co, LLC and Albertsons Companies, Inc.  In addition, you will not be able to sue any of the Defendants’ or other Released Parties direct and indirect parent companies, predecessor entities, successor entities, related companies, direct and indirect subsidiaries, divisions, holding entities, past and present affiliates and banners, franchisees, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, advertising and production agencies, licensors, and agents, including all current and former officers, directors, managers, members, partners, owners, employees, shareholders, consultants, attorneys, legal representatives, insurers, agents, assigns, and other equity interest holders of any of the foregoing, and their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns regarding any of the settled claims if you are a Class Member and do not exclude yourself from the Class.

The Settlement Agreement, includes all the provisions about settled claims and Releases, is available on this Website.

Yes. Molly Becker, Sonja Bolerjack, Frank Gonzalez, Vincent Lebrecht, Maria McBain, Victoria Rodgers, Pamela Smythe, and Robin White will request a service award of up to a maximum total amount of $30,000 in the aggregate, to compensate them for their services as Class Representatives and their efforts in bringing the lawsuit. The Court will make the final decision as to the amount, if any, to be paid to the Class Representatives.

If you do not want to be included in the Settlement, you must send a written request for exclusion that is postmarked no later than November 2, 2020 to:

Becker v. Massimo, Mother Parkers and Reily Foods
c/o Settlement Administrator
PO Box 34685
Philadelphia, PA 19101-4685

Exclusion request must contain the requestor’s name, address, the words “I wish to be excluded from the Molly Becker, et al., v. Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, Inc., et al., Class Action,” and signature.

If you exclude yourself, you will not be able to receive Benefits from the Settlement and you cannot object to the Settlement. You will not be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit.

No. If you do not exclude yourself from the Settlement, you forever give up the right to sue the Released Parties (listed in FAQ 8) for the claims this Settlement resolves.

If you do nothing, you will be bound by the Settlement if the Court approves it, you will not be able to start or proceed with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Released Parties (listed in FAQ 8) about the settled claims in this case at any time.

Yes. The Court has ordered that the Law Office of L. DeWayne Layfield, PLLC; KamberLaw LLC; Southern Atlantic Law Group, PLLC; and Steelman & Gaunt (together, “Class Counsel”) will represent the interests of all Class Members. Class Members will not be separately charged for these lawyers.  

If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

Class Counsel will apply to the Court for an award of Attorneys’ Fees and Litigation Expenses in an amount up to $4,700,000. 
A copy of Class Counsel’s Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses will be posted on this Website, before the Fairness Hearing.  The Court will make the final decisions as to the amounts to be paid to Class Counsel, and may award less than the amounts requested by Class Counsel.

If you want to tell the Court that you do not agree with the proposed Settlement or some part of it, you can submit an Objection to the Court telling them why you do not think the Settlement should be approved. 

Your Objection must include all the following information: 

1. The case name and number: Molly Becker, et al., v. Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, Inc., Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee USA, Ltd., and Reily Foods Company, Case No. 20PH-CV00569 (Phelps County Circuit Court, Missouri).  
   
2. Your full name, address, telephone number and email address.
3. The name and address of any lawyer(s) representing you or who may be entitled to compensation in connection with Objection. 
4. A detailed statement of the Objection(s), including the grounds for the Objection(s). 
5. Copies of any papers, briefs, or other documents upon which the Objection is based.
6. Indicate if you intend to appear at the Fairness Hearing, with or without counsel.
7. Identify any counsel who will appear on your behalf at the Fairness Hearing and any Person who will be called to testify to support your Objection.
8. A statement that you are a Class Member in the proposed Settlement, including all information from the Claim Form.
9. Your signature in addition to the signature of any attorney representing you in connection with the Objection.
10. A detailed list of any class action settlement Objections made by you or your lawyer in the last five years.  

Your Objection must be filed with the Court by November 2, 2020, at:

Clerk of the Court
Phelps County Circuit Court
200 North Main Street
Rolla, MO 65401

In addition, you must provide  your Objection to Class Counsel and Defense Counsel by  November 2, 2020:

If you do not submit your Objection with all requirements, or you do not timely file and serve your Objection by November 2, 2020, you will be considered to have waived all Objections and will not be entitled to speak at the Fairness Hearing.

No, you are not required to come to the Fairness Hearing.  However, you are welcome to attend the Hearing at your own expense.
If you submit an Objection, you do not have to come to the Hearing to talk about it.  If your Objection was submitted properly and on time, the Court will consider it.  You also may pay your own lawyer to attend the Fairness Hearing, but that is not necessary.

Yes, you can speak at the Fairness Hearing but you must ask the Court for permission.  To request permission to speak, you must file an Objection according to the instructions in FAQ 15, including all the information required. 
You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself from the Settlement.

If you do nothing, you will not get any money from the Settlement, you will not be able to sue for the claims in this case and you release the claims against Defendants listed in FAQ 8.

This is only a summary of the proposed Settlement.  If you want additional information about this lawsuit, including a copy of the Settlement Agreement, the complaints, the Court’s Preliminary Approval Order, Class Counsel’s Application for Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses, and more, please review Document section of this Website or call  1-844-491-5742.
You may also contact the Settlement Administrator in writing at  Becker v. Massimo, Mother Parkers and Reily Foods, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 34685, Philadelphia, PA. 19101-4685. 
You may also visit or call the Clerk’s office at the Phelps County Circuit Court, 200 North Main Street, Rolla, MO 65401; (573) 458-6200. The Clerk will tell you how to obtain the complete file for inspection and copying at your own expense.

PLEASE DO NOT ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT OR LITIGATION TO THE CLERK OF THE COURT OR THE JUDGE.