This $4 million Schnucks settlement resolved allegations about alcohol comparison prices in Missouri stores. The claim period ended in 2023, final approval followed, and settlement payments were distributed in 2024.
Current Status
This settlement is complete. Claims closed September 8, 2023, the court granted final approval after the October 10, 2023 hearing, and payments were distributed to approved claimants in 2024. There is no remaining claim form or action required.
What Was the Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit alleged that Schnuck Markets used misleading comparison prices when advertising wine and spirits in Missouri. According to the complaint, references to regular or original prices made the advertised sale discounts appear larger than the plaintiffs believed the actual pricing history supported.
Schnucks denied wrongdoing and the court did not decide the merits at trial. The company agreed to fund a settlement of up to $4 million to resolve the disputed claims.
Who Was Included?
The class covered Missouri residents who bought wine or spirits from a Schnucks store in Missouri, or through the company's online store for a Missouri purchase, between December 3, 2015 and February 15, 2023.
The benefit depended on the number of qualifying alcohol products purchased and whether the claimant supplied purchase records.
How Did the Payment Tiers Work?
- $11 tier: at least one qualifying purchase, with no receipt required.
- $25 tier: proof supporting purchases of 25 to 55 qualifying units.
- $72 tier: proof supporting purchases of 56 or more qualifying units.
The fund also covered court-approved administration expenses, fees, and awards. The agreement placed a $4 million ceiling on the total class settlement amount.
What Proof Was Accepted?
The basic $11 claim relied on the claimant's certification and did not require a receipt. The $25 and $72 tiers required supporting purchase information. Schnucks Rewards records could be used where available, and other claimants could submit receipts or comparable records showing the quantity of eligible purchases.
How Did the Historical Claim Process Work?
Claimants selected the tier matching their purchase history and submitted the form by the September 2023 deadline. A person seeking the basic tier certified at least one qualifying purchase. Higher-tier claimants identified the larger purchase quantity and supplied records. The administrator then reviewed claims against the agreement before the court-approved distribution, so the advertised tier was the maximum available for a valid claim rather than a payment for every person who shopped at Schnucks.
What Did the $4 Million Cover?
The settlement amount was a cap on the overall class resolution. In addition to approved consumer benefits, it covered notice, claim administration, court-approved attorneys' fees and expenses, and the other amounts authorized by the judgment. Keeping those deductions separate from the individual tiers helps explain why the fund total should not be divided by the number of class members to estimate a personal payment.
Why Can't I File Now?
The September 2023 deadline and the later distribution have both passed. Old claim links, paper forms, and submission instructions are retained only in the case record and should not be used to suggest that late claims remain available.
