Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Lawsuit Settlement: What You Need to Know?

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If you bought certain Evanger’s or Against the Grain pet food products between December 2015 and June 2017, you might be eligible for some money or merchandise certificates.

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A class action lawsuit was filed against the companies that make these products, saying there were some problems with the advertising and testing. The companies have agreed to a settlement to resolve the case.

www.evangerssettlement.com – Get Evanger’s or Against the Grain Products

Evanger's Dog and Cat Food Lawsuit Settlement
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Logo Credit: Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food

Let’s take a closer look at what this lawsuit is all about and what you need to do if you think you’re owed some compensation.

Don’t worry, we’ll keep things simple and easy to understand!

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What is the Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Lawsuit About?

This lawsuit is officially called Mael v. Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co., Inc., et al. It was filed in the United States District Court Western District of Washington. The case number is 3:17-cv-05469-RBL (W.D. Wash.) if you want to look it up.

The lawsuit claimed that Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co., Nutripack, LLC, Against the Grain Pet Foods, and Sher Services Co. (we’ll just call them “Evanger’s” for short) had some issues with their advertising and product testing.

Specifically, it focused on three products:

  • Evanger’s Hunk of Beef.
  • Evanger’s Braised Beef.
  • Against the Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy.

The lawsuit alleged there were problems with these products between December 1, 2015, and June 30, 2017.

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Now, Evanger’s has agreed to a settlement to resolve the case. This means they’ll provide cash payments or merchandise certificates to people who bought the products during that period.

They’ve also agreed to change some of their advertising practices and do more third-party testing on these products for a while.

It’s important to note that by agreeing to the settlement, Evanger’s is not admitting they did anything wrong.

They’re just agreeing to resolve the case to avoid further expenses and uncertainty of litigation. The court still has to approve the settlement before it’s final.

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Who Should File a Claim for Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Lawsuit Settlement?

If you purchased any of the three products mentioned above between December 1, 2015, and June 30, 2017, you might be eligible to file a claim and get some money or merchandise certificates as part of the settlement.

It doesn’t matter if your pets ate the food or if they got sick from it. As long as you bought one of those products during the specified dates, you’re considered part of the “class” in this class action lawsuit.

Here’s a simple breakdown of who’s included:

  • Product Purchased: Evanger’s Hunk of Beef, Evanger’s Braised Beef, or Against the Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy.
  • Dates of Purchase: December 1, 2015, through June 30, 2017.

If both of those apply to you, then you’re likely able to file a claim. Easy peasy!

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How to File a Claim for Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Lawsuit Settlement?

Filing a claim is a piece of cake. Here’s all you need to do:

  1. Go to www.evangerssettlement.com
  2. Find the “Submit a Claim” section
  3. Fill out the required information
  4. Submit the claim form

Seriously, that’s it! The website has everything you need to file a claim quickly and easily.

Now, you might be wondering about the deadline to file a claim. Unfortunately, that information wasn’t provided in the content you shared with me.

Deadlines are really important for these kinds of settlements, so be sure to check the official website or any notices you received for details on when claims must be submitted.

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You don’t want to miss out because you waited too long!

What You Can Get from the Settlement?

Okay, so what exactly can you get if your claim is approved? The settlement provides two options:

  1. Cash payments
  2. Merchandise vouchers

The content didn’t specify exactly how much money people could get or the value of the merchandise vouchers. The amount you receive will likely depend on how many claims are filed and approved.

In class action settlements like this, there’s usually a set amount of money that’s divided up among all the valid claims. So the more people who file claims, the smaller each person’s share will be.

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Here’s a hypothetical example to show how it might work:

  • Let’s say the settlement sets aside $500,000 for cash payments to class members.
  • If 50,000 people file valid claims, each person would get $10 (500,000 / 50,000 = 10).
  • But if only 25,000 people file claims, each person’s share would be $20 (500,000 / 25,000 = 20).

Again, this is just a made-up example since the actual amounts for this settlement weren’t provided. However, it illustrates how the per-person payout can vary based on the number of participants.

As for the merchandise vouchers, I’d expect them to be gift certificates you can use to purchase Evanger’s or Against the Grain products.

They might have some restrictions, like minimum purchase amounts or expiration dates. Be sure to read the fine print if you opt for a voucher!

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Changes to Advertising and Testing

In addition to providing compensation to consumers, the settlement also requires Evanger’s to make some changes to their business practices. Specifically, they’ve agreed to:

  • Change certain advertising practices.
  • Fund additional third-party testing of the affected products for a limited time.

These changes are designed to address the issues raised in the lawsuit and help ensure the accuracy and integrity of Evanger’s products and marketing going forward.

It’s a good sign that the company is willing to make changes as part of the settlement. It shows they’re taking the matter seriously and are committed to improving their practices.

The additional testing is especially important. Having an independent third party verify the quality and contents of the products should give consumers more peace of mind. It adds an extra layer of accountability and transparency.

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Of course, no settlement can guarantee there won’t be issues in the future.

But these changes, along with the financial compensation, can be seen as a positive step in making things right for consumers who bought the products in question.

The Fairness Hearing

Before the settlement can be finalized, there’s one more important step: the fairness hearing. This is where the court reviews the settlement terms to make sure they’re fair, reasonable, and adequate.

The fairness hearing for this case is scheduled for June 12, 2020, at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

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It will take place at:

  • 1717 Pacific Avenue
  • Room 3100
  • Tacoma, WA 98402

Now, you don’t have to attend this hearing unless you want to object to the settlement. If you’re happy with the terms and don’t feel the need to speak up, you can just let the process play out and wait for your compensation once the settlement is approved.

If you do want to object, you have the right to do so. The settlement website should have instructions on how to properly file an objection.

Make sure you follow those guidelines carefully, as there are usually specific deadlines and procedures to follow.

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Assuming there are no major objections or issues raised at the fairness hearing, the court will likely approve the settlement. That’s the green light for the claims process to start and for payments to be distributed to eligible class members.

The exact timeline for all of this will be laid out in the court’s order approving the settlement. Keep an eye out for updates on the settlement website or from the class action administrators. They’ll let you know when to expect your payment or merchandise voucher if your claim is approved.

Attorneys’ Fees

One last thing to note: the attorneys who represented the class in this lawsuit (known as “Class Counsel”) will ask the court to approve payment of up to $295,000 to cover their fees and expenses. This is standard practice in class action cases.

If approved, this money will come out of the total settlement fund before the rest is distributed to class members. So it won’t be an extra charge on top of what you’ll receive.

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It’s important to remember that class action lawsuits can be complex, time-consuming, and expensive to litigate. The attorneys often work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if they win the case or negotiate a settlement. The fees compensate them for the risk they took and the work they put in on behalf of the class.

While $295,000 might seem like a lot, it’s a relatively small percentage of what many class action attorneys request. So in the grand scheme of things, it’s not an unreasonable amount.

Of course, the court will scrutinize the fee request to ensure it’s justified. If the judge feels it’s excessive, they can choose to award a lower amount. It’s all part of the checks and balances built into the class action process.

www.evangerssettlement.com Contact Info:

If you have any questions about the settlement or the claims process, there are several ways to get in touch with the people handling the case.

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Settlement Administrator:

  • Mail: Mael v. Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. Inc., et al. Settlement Administrator c/o CPT Group Inc. 50 Corporate Park Irvine, CA 92606
  • Email: EvangersSettlement@cptgroup.com
  • Phone: 1-888-404-0223

The Settlement Administrator is like the customer service team for the settlement. They’re the ones who will be processing claims, answering questions, and distributing payments. If you have a general question or need help filing your claim, they should be your first point of contact.

Class Counsel:

  • Jessica J. Sleater ANDERSEN SLEATER SIANNI LLC
  • Jennifer Rust Murray TERRELL MARSHALL LAW GROUP PLLC

The Class Counsel are the attorneys who represented the consumers who brought the lawsuit. If you have more specific legal questions about the case or the settlement terms, you can reach out to them.

Keep in mind, though, that they represent the entire class, not individual class members. So while they can provide general information, they might not be able to give you personalized legal advice.

If you have a unique situation or need individual legal guidance, you may want to consult with your attorney. But for most people, the Settlement Administrator should be able to handle any questions or issues that come up.

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Conclusion:

Alright, folks, let’s wrap things up! Here’s the bottom line on the Evanger’s and Against the Grain pet food settlement:

  • If you bought certain Evanger’s or Against the Grain products between December 2015 and June 2017, you might be eligible for a cash payment or merchandise voucher.
  • To get your money or voucher, you need to file a claim at www.evangerssettlement.com. Make sure you do it before the deadline!
  • The settlement also requires the companies to change some of their advertising and testing practices to address the issues raised in the lawsuit.
  • If you have questions, the Settlement Administrator and Class Counsel are there to help.

So there you have it! A consumer-friendly summary of what this settlement is all about and what you need to do to get your piece of the pie.

Dealing with lawsuits and legal mumbo jumbo is never fun, but hopefully, this breakdown has made things a little easier to digest (unlike some questionable pet foods, am I right?).

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The key is to stay informed, follow the instructions, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure about something.

With a little bit of effort, you can make sure you get the compensation you’re owed and hold the companies accountable for their actions.

And who knows? Maybe this settlement will lead to some positive changes in the pet food industry as a whole. Wouldn’t that be a tasty treat for our furry friends!

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