If you purchased certain baby products directly from Babies “R” Us in the U.S., a class action settlement may affect your rights.
A class action settlement has been reached in class action lawsuits against Toys “R” Us, Inc. d/b/a Babies “R” Us; Babies “R” Us, Inc., Toys “R” Us-Delaware, Inc. (collectively “Babies “R” Us”), BabyBjörn AB, Britax Child Safety, Inc., Kids Line, LLC, Maclaren USA, Inc., Medela, Inc., Peg Perego U.S.A., Inc., and Regal Lager, Inc. (collectively “Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (styled McDonough v. Toys ‘R’ Us, et al., No. 2:06-cv-0242-AB and Elliott v. Toys ‘R’ Us, et al., No. 2:09-cv-06151-AB) alleging, among other things, that Babies “R” Us conspired with certain manufacturers to implement and enforce policies that would prevent competitors of Babies “R” Us from discounting certain baby products, purportedly in violation of federal antitrust laws, according to the Babies “R” Us antitrust class action settlement website and settlement notice.
Babies “R” Us antitrust settlement class members reportedly include persons and entities that purchased certain baby products in the United States directly from Babies “R” Us or Toys “R” Us during specific time periods. The Class has reportedly been separated into subclasses based on the type and manufacturer of the baby product and dates of purchase from Babies “R” Us or Toys “R” Us, as follows:
BABYBJÖRN SUBCLASS
February 2, 2000 through April 30, 2005
Any BabyBjörn baby carrier
BRITAX SUBCLASS
January 1, 1999 through January 31, 2011
Any Britax car seat
KIDS LINE SUBCLASS
January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2006
Any Kids Line product
MACLAREN SUBCLASS
October 1, 1999 through January 31, 2011
Any Maclaren stroller
MEDELA SUBCLASS
July 1, 1999 through January 31, 2011
Any Medela Pump in Style breast pump
PEG PEREGO CAR SEAT SUBCLASS
July 1, 1999 through January 31, 2011
Any Peg Perego car seat
PEG PEREGO HIGH CHAIR SUBCLASS
July 1, 1999 through January 31, 2011
Any Peg Perego high chair
PEG PEREGO STROLLER SUBCLASS
July 1, 1999 through January 31, 2011
Any Peg Perego stroller
The Babies “R” Us antitrust class action settlement reportedly provides that the Released Defendants have agreed to make payments totaling $35,240,000 to a Settlement Fund which is proposed to be allocated — after payments of attorneys’ fees, reimbursement of litigation expenses, and incentive awards to Settlement Class Representatives — among each Settlement Subclass based upon the percentage of the overall estimated alleged damages each Settlement Subclass represents. To obtain money from the Babies “R” Us settlement, settlement class members reportedly must complete and submit a Claim Form by August 1, 2011.
The Court will reportedly hold a class action settlement Fairness Hearing in Courtroom 7-B at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, on July 6, 2011 at 10 a.m., at which time the Court will reportedly consider whether the Babies “R” Us antitrust class action lawsuit settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate.
For more information on the Babies “R” Us antitrust class action lawsuit settlement, including information on how to participate in, object to or opt out of the settlement, visit the Babies “R” Us antitrust Settlement website:
www.babyproductsantitrustsettlement.com
If You Have Thoughts On The Babies “R” Us Antitrust Class Action Settlement, Share Your Class Action Settlement Comments Below.