Deceptive Wine Pricing Parties Reach Out-of-Court Deal

Parties to a much-criticized and highly publicized class settlement over wine prices have taken the unusual step of bypassing the legal system altogether.

Customers of Wines ‘Til Sold Out’s website voluntarily dismissed their deceptive pricing claims Aug. 13, four months after Judge Renée Marie Bumb of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey rejected their proposed settlement.

The case drew extra attention after the Department of Justice challenged an early version of the settlement. Justice criticized the deal for offering customers coupons rather than cash, and calling for too much in fees for class counsel.

Eventually the ...