Sateriale v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company: "Camel Cash Class Action Litigation

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., commenced this action against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company seeking damages arising out of R.J. Reynolds' termination of its long-standing "Camel Cash" loyalty program, pursuant to which consumer had saved "C-Notes" from packages of Camel cigarettes.  In October 2006, R.J. Reynolds removed all non-tobacco items from its Camel Cash program, and program members could only redeem their C-Notes for cigarettes or coupons for dollars off cigarettes. We asserted a class action for breach of contract on behalf of a class of hundreds of thousands of consumers.  In 2012, we obtained a victory before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which reversed the district court's dismissal of the complaint, finding that the complaint adequately pleaded that the Camel Cash program created a unilateral contract between R.J. Reynolds and consumers.  In December 2014, the United States District Court for the Central District of California granted, in part, Plaintiffs' Motion to Certify a Class and denied R.J. Reynolds' motion for summary judgment.  Pursuant to a settlement reached in 2016, Reynolds offered Class Members the opportunity to use C-Notes that they collected and held as of October 1, 2006, to redeem for non-tobacco merchandise. Class Members were permited to participate in the Settlement even if they no longer held their C-Notes. Reported decisions at 697 F.3d 777; 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 176862 (denial of defendant's motion for summary judgment); 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 176858 (granting in part class certification).