Who is a Class Member
You are included in the Vitamix Blender Defective Blade Seal Settlement if “(1) you own a Vitamix household blender with a blade assembly dated on or after January 1, 2007 until October 1, 2016; or (2) if you own a Vitamix commercial blender that was purchased through a third party such as a dealer, distributor, or restaurant supply store and not directly from Vita-Mix on or after September 15, 2015 but before August 9, 2016 (or before April 7, 2017 in the case of a commercial blender from the XL product line).”
The blade assembly date is on the top side of one of the blades in the blade assembly, which is located at the bottom of the blender container.
If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Estimated Award
- Up to $140 Vitamix Gift Card or Replacement Blade Assembly
Owners of Vitamix household blenders may choose between a $70 gift card they can on the Vita-Mix website or in any Vita-Mix store, or a free new replacement blade assembly that does not fleck. If you own more than one Vitamix household blender, you can receive a $140 gift card.
Owners of one or more Vitamix commercial blenders can receive a new replacement blade assembly, up to a maximum of two replacement blade assemblies.
Proof of Purchase
- Claimants will need to provide the serial number for each Vita-Mix blender they have.
Claim Form
Vitamix Blender Settlement Notes
- Vicki Linneman, et al, v. Vita-Mix Corporation, et al.
- Case No. 15-cv-748
- Pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division
Plaintiffs Vicki Linneman and Obadiah Ritchey initiated this class action lawsuit against Vita-Mix Corporation, alleging certain Vitamix blenders are defective because they blades tend to fleck, contaminating food and drink blends.
Specifically, the plaintiffs claim that Vitamix blenders contaminate food and drinks with shards of polytetrafluoroethylene, a Teflon-like substance that peels off the Vitamix blender blade assembly and goes directly into the food or drink being mixed. These shards, also know as black flecks, are quite small and are extremely difficult to detect with the naked eye when found within food or drink, the lawsuit states. As a result, consumers who use the defective Vitamix blenders unknowingly consume these shards.
Reportedly, Vitamix was aware of the issue of black flecks or shards stemming from the defective blenders as many consumers took to social media voicing their complaints, but chose not to do anything – going so far as to say the black flecks are FDA-approved and not a health issue for consumers.
Vita-Mix Corporation maintains that they complied with the law and does not admit any wrongdoing. The company also denies that any of its Vitamix blenders were defective in design, manufacture, or engineering and claims that plaintiffs never suffered any losses or actual injury.
Under the terms of the Vitamix Blender Settlement, the company will provide Class members who submit valid and timely claims with up to a $140 Vitamix gift card or a replacement blade assembly. The Vitamix Blender Settlement was granted preliminary approval in October. The FAQ section on the settlement website further summarizes the terms of the settlement and how Class Members can file a claim. Complete details are provided in the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement and other related documents are available on the Vitamix Blender Settlement website.
Class members who wish to exclude themselves or object to the terms of the Vitamix Blender Settlement must do so by March 7, 2018. Class members who wish to submit a claim for a $70 Vitamix gift card or a replacement blade assembly must do so by Sept. 28, 2018.
Important Dates
- 9/28/18: Claim Form Deadline
- 3/7/18: Objection or Exclusion Deadline
- 3/27/18: Final Approval Hearing at 10:00 pm ET* (class members do not need to attend this hearing in order to receive a slice of the settlement pie).
*Settlement Class Members who wish to speak at the hearing should check Vitamix Blender Settlement website to confirm that the date or time of the Hearing has not been changed.
Contact Information
- Mail: Blender Settlement, c/o JND Class Action Administration, PO Box 7028, Broomfield, CO 80021
- Phone: 1-855-233-4747
- Email: blendersettlement@jndla.com
Class Counsel
- Paul M. DeMarco and W/B. Markovits of Markovits Stock & DeMarco LLC
- Jeffrey S. Goldenberg of Goldenberg Schneider LPA
- Justin C. Walker of Finney Law Firn LLC
Settlement Website