Guide on claiming your share from the bread price-rigging settlement
Major grocery companies Loblaw and George Weston, along with other unnamed defendants, are accused of overcharging Canadians who purchased packaged bread since 2001. Two class actions aim to offer cash settlements to affected individuals and businesses, but both Ontario and Quebec courts must approve the agreements before they can take effect.
The Ontario Superior Court has already given approval to a $500-million settlement regarding Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and George Weston Ltd., following allegations of industry-wide price-fixing. However, the Quebec Superior Court has yet to approve the second settlement, with its next hearing set for June 16.
According to a Quebec settlement notice, the national settlement is a compromise of disputed claims and does not constitute an admission of liability, fault, or wrongdoing, by Loblaw and Weston. If approved in both court cases, 78% of the funds will go towards Ontario claims, while the remaining 22% will benefit Quebec residents.
To be eligible for the payout in the Quebec bread class action lawsuit, you must be a resident of Quebec and have purchased at least one package of packaged bread between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2019. Additionally, you must not have previously received compensation for the price-fixing allegations.
Eligible individuals and businesses in Ontario don't need to take any action to be included in the class action. There is no opt-out deadline for either case. However, the claims process has not yet been determined, and no legal notice or claim forms have been provided.
In case the Quebec court rejects the settlement next month, the settlement will become null and void in Ontario, and Loblaw and George Weston would remain defendants in the class actions. If approved in both courts, the settlement would allow lawyers to access information for the ongoing case against the remaining defendants.
The remaining defendants in the class actions include Canada Bread, Sobeys, Metro, Wal-Mart Canada, and Giant Tiger. Jim Orr, partner at Orr Taylor LLP, stated that the expectation is that this would result in further significant monetary recovery for Canadians. Regardless of the Quebec court ruling, the cases against the non-settling defendants will continue.
Sources: Canadian Press, class action websites for Ontario and Quebec
The upcoming Quebec Superior Court hearing on June 16 could potentially approve a compromise settlement, which, if successful, would allocate 78% of the funds to Ontario claims and the remaining 22% to Quebec residents, as part of the national settlement involving Loblaw and George Weston. Jim Orr, a partner at Orr Taylor LLP, anticipates that if approved, this action could lead to further significant monetary recovery for Canadians, as the class action lawsuits against Canada Bread, Sobeys, Metro, Wal-Mart Canada, and Giant Tiger are still ongoing.
