Listen to this articleThe US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois recently announced that a DCM-related class action lawsuit filed against Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive Co., may affect residents of Illinois to purchase Hill’s Prescription Diet pet food from any retailer (including any veterinary clinic) since March 2, 2014.
The class action lawsuit alleges that Hill and the other defendants conducted a coordinated scheme to persuade American pet owners that grain-free dog food products sold by several of its competitors Hill increases the risk and severity of a fatal canine heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Hill’s Pet Nutrition strongly disputes the allegations made in the class action lawsuit and insists that its practice of selling Prescription Diet pet food only to consumers whose veterinarians have prescribed it is in the best interest of pets and is not fraudulent, unfair, unethical or unscrupulous.
Hill previously commented to Pet Age that it “conducts itself with the utmost integrity in all aspects of our business. We believe the allegations are without merit, and we will vigorously defend our position.”
Hill further maintains that it has done nothing to cause consumers to overpay for Prescription Diet products.
According to US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois press release, any buyer who fits the following description is a Class Member: All Illinois residents who purchased Hill’s Prescription Diet pet food from any retailer (including any veterinary clinic) in Illinois since March 2, 2014. Excluded from definition are: (a) Defendants, their legal representatives, officers, directors, assigns and successors; (b) Judges to whom this case is assigned and their staff; (c) the lawyers and expert witnesses involved in the matter; and (d) all persons or entities who purchase Prescription Diet Food for resale. If you are a class member, you are one of the participants against whom the lawsuit is brought, and this Notice applies to you.
These rights and options — and the deadlines for exercising them — are explained in the notice. Additional information can also be found on the Class Member Frequently Asked Questions page.
The court appointed Michael L. McGlamry of the law firm Pope McGlamry, PC, Ellen M. Carey of the law firm Forde & O’Meara, LLP, and Edward J. (“Trip”) Coyne III of the law firm Ward and Smith, PA as Class Counsel.
