Yes, the Walmart settlement over groceries sold by weight is real

Walmart is a retailer with over 4,600 locations in the United States. Most Walmart locations have a grocery department to sell fresh food. In October 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Walmart, claiming that the retail story overcharged customers for groceries sold by weight.

Multiple VERIFY readers, including Michael, reached out to ask if a Walmart settlement for produce purchases was real after receiving a notice about one by email.

THE QUESTION

Is the Walmart settlement over groceries sold by weight real? 

THE SOURCES 

• Walmart class action website
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

THE ANSWER

Yes, the Walmart settlement over groceries sold by weight is real.

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WHAT WE FOUND

Walmart has agreed to a $45 million settlement after a class action lawsuit claimed the retailer charged customers more than it should have for weighted groceries, like sold-by-weight meat or bagged fruit. 

The class action complaint claims Walmart incorrectly charged customers who purchased weighted groceries in a variety of ways. The document alleges that Walmart falsely inflated product weight, mislabeled the weight of bagged produce and overcharged for clearance items. 

The settlement document says that Walmart denies any wrongdoing in the case. An official decision was not made in reference to the claims in the initial lawsuit. Both the plaintiff and Walmart agreed to negotiate a settlement in order “to avoid the risk, uncertain outcome, and expense of continued litigation.”

The official settlement website says customers who purchased eligible weighted groceries from Walmart between Oct. 19, 2018 and Jan. 19, 2024 qualify for the settlement, which is awaiting final approval by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The final approval hearing is currently set for June 12, 2024. 

Once approved, each eligible Walmart customer who submits a claim with proof of purchase “will be entitled to receive 2% of the total cost of the substantiated Weighted Goods and Bagged Citrus Purchased, capped at five hundred dollars ($500.00).” The settlement website notes that this amount is subject to change, depending on the amount of total claims received.

Customers without proof of purchase may still be able to claim between $10 and $25, depending on how many eligible goods they attest to purchasing from Walmart during the time period.

To be excluded from the settlement, requests must be mailed to the settlement administrator by May 22, 2024. The current timeline on the Walmart class action website shows that claim forms must be submitted by June 5, 2024. Claims can be filled out online or by mail. 

People with additional questions about the Walmart class action settlement can contact the administrator by phone at 1-833-987-9998.