Published
November 6, 2024
Updated
August 1, 2026
The $31.9 million Smitty's/CAM2 manufacturer settlement is no longer accepting claims. The court approved distribution, and the administrator sent more than $16.18 million to 5,241 claimants on July 29, 2025.
Current Status
Final approval was granted on March 27, 2025, with no objections or appeals reported. The court approved a proposed distribution in July 2025, and the administrator sent $16,182,532.98, plus pre-distribution corrections, to 5,241 claimants on July 29, 2025. A March 2026 court report said 5,161 original checks had been cashed, some reissued checks remained outstanding, and final accounting would follow after all checks were cashed or became stale. The March 1, 2025 claim deadline remains closed.StatusPayments Issued; Residual Administration
Claim DeadlineMarch 1, 2025 — Passed
Gross Settlement$31.9 Million
Initial Distribution$16.18M to 5,241 Claimants
What Was the Lawsuit About?
The multidistrict litigation alleged that Smitty's Supply and CAM2 International made and marketed tractor hydraulic fluids using the obsolete “303” designation even though the products did not meet modern equipment specifications. Plaintiffs alleged the fluids contained inadequate or inappropriate ingredients and could cause excessive wear, failure, or other damage in tractors and farm equipment. The manufacturers denied the allegations and did not admit fault. The settlement resolved claims against the manufacturer defendants without a trial.Which Products Were Covered?
The manufacturer settlement covered Super S Super Trac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, Super S 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid, CAM2 ProMax 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil, and CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Oil. The class generally included persons and entities that bought the listed products in the United States beginning December 1, 2013. The formal definition treated certain Missouri purchases differently and excluded purchases made solely for resale.Who Had to File a Claim?
Every person seeking money from the manufacturer settlement had to submit Part A of the manufacturer claim form by March 1, 2025. That was true even for people who had already participated in an earlier retailer settlement. Prior retailer-settlement purchase information could be adopted, but it did not eliminate the need to submit the manufacturer form. Part B allowed claims for qualifying repairs, parts, or specific equipment damage.How Were Purchase and Damage Claims Valued?
The allocation plan assigned purchase values of $6 for a two-gallon jug, $12 for a five-gallon bucket, and $90 for a 55-gallon drum. Claimants could also seek documented repair, parts, and equipment-loss amounts. These were claim values used in a pro rata formula, not flat guaranteed payouts. After review, the administrator found 5,241 valid claim forms, including 2,502 with valid repair or total-loss components.Why the Old $100/$1,000 Estimate Was Misleading
Earlier summaries sometimes described the benefit as $100 without proof or $1,000 with proof. The court-approved distribution did not operate as two universal flat tiers. The actual award was based on approved product units and approved equipment-damage values, then multiplied by the available pro rata percentage. The July 2025 proposal paid approximately 40% of each approved total claim value from the net fund, subject to corrections and administration.What Did the Court Approve for Distribution?
After fees, expenses, awards, and administration costs, the net amount available for class members was $16,664,479.47. The court approved an initial distribution of $16,182,532.98 and a contingency reserve for corrections and late issues. The administrator sent the initial distribution on July 29, 2025. By March 16, 2026, the vast majority of original checks had been cashed, and outreach and reissuance work continued for the remainder.Where to Read the Current Court Reports
The official manufacturer court-documents page posts the final approval order, distribution order, and 2026 status reports. Those documents are the best source for payment-stage updates. The claim-filing language still visible on portions of the homepage is historical and does not reopen the March 2025 deadline.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official manufacturer settlement court documents website.
Case
In re Smitty's/CAM2 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid Litigation
Case Number
4:20-md-02936-SRB
Court
U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
Final Approval
March 27, 2025
Claim Deadline
March 1, 2025
Initial Distribution
July 29, 2025
Valid Claims Paid
5,241
Official Website
official manufacturer settlement court documents
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