FAST CASH: Dental company will pay customers $300 from $27.5m overcharge settlement
According to THE SUN, Eligible Americans may be able to claim a $300 coupon for Invisalign treatment as part of a settlement involving alleged overcharging by SmileDirectClub. This settlement benefits customers of the teledentistry company, which filed for bankruptcy last year.
Background of the Settlement
SmileDirectClub, known for its direct-to-consumer teeth aligners, was involved in a legal dispute with Align Technology, the creator of Invisalign. Plaintiffs allege that Align Technology and SmileDirectClub engaged in an illegal antitrust conspiracy beginning in 2016. According to the lawsuit, the two companies agreed to divide the market, with Align Technology focusing on sales through dental offices and SmileDirectClub selling directly to consumers. This arrangement reportedly allowed SmileDirectClub to increase the prices of its aligners.
The lawsuit, which claimed that Align Technology violated federal antitrust laws by avoiding the direct-to-consumer market, resulted in Align Technology agreeing to a $27.5 million settlement. While the company has not admitted to any wrongdoing, it agreed to settle to avoid the costs and complications of extended litigation.
Settlement Details
If approved, the settlement will provide approximately 1.45 million SmileDirectClub users who purchased aligners between October 22, 2017, and August 18, 2022, with a $300 coupon for Invisalign treatment. The proposed class action settlement was filed in federal court in San Francisco and awaits approval from US District Judge Vince Chhabria.
SmileDirectClub’s Financial Struggles
SmileDirectClub, founded in 2014, has faced significant financial difficulties, culminating in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in September of the previous year. The company ceased operations in December following the bankruptcy.
Additional Panel Payouts
Consumers may also be eligible for compensation from another class action settlement involving Bosch home appliances. Bosch is addressing claims that certain microwaves and ovens contained defective variable-frequency drive (VFD) control panels, leading to issues such as fading, dimming, or failure of the display.
As part of a $2 million settlement, Bosch is offering multiple tiers of benefits:
- Tier 1(a): Up to $400 for documented expenses related to past display failures.
- Tier 1(b): Up to $400 for future panel display failures.
- Tier 2: A three-year extended service plan that includes replacement of faulty VFD control panels.
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The deadline for Tier 1(a) claims was September 3, but class members have until February 12, 2025, to submit claims for Tier 1(b) or Tier 2 benefits.
Other Settlement Opportunities
Americans may also qualify for payments from various other settlements:
- Taxpayers can receive one-time payments from a $14.95 million filing settlement.
- Badoo users can benefit from a share of a $40 million privacy settlement.
