Bigelow Tea Buyers Get Class Status in USA-Made Deception Suit

Consumers alleging R.C. Bigelow Inc. deceptively advertised its teas as “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned” should get class status for most of their claims, a magistrate judge recommended.

Classes should be certified for two groups of consumers for consumer protection claims, the judge recommended to the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Feb. 14.

The consumers alleged the label was false because part of the manufacturing process involves harvesting tea leaves outside of the US.

Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke recommended that two classes of consumers, based on the type of tea ...