If you purchased any Near East brand rice pilaf, couscous, quinoa or tabbouleh products in California between October 28, 2012 and May 8, 2020 you may be entitled to receive money from a class action settlement.

PHILADELPHIA, June 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Heffler Claims Group regarding the Brannin v. Golden Grain Company settlement.

A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit, Brannin v. Golden Grain Company, San Francisco Superior Court Case No. CGC-16-555084.  The lawsuit claims that Golden Grain violated California law by packaging certain Near East brand products in boxes that contained excessive amounts of empty space.  Golden Grain denies the claims in the lawsuit and any wrongdoing.  Golden Grain continues to stand by its Near East brand products and its packaging.

Who's included?

The settlement includes all purchasers of the following Near East brand products in California at any time from October 28, 2012 to May 8, 2020:

Couscous products:

Broccoli & Cheese, Mediterranean Curry, Herbed Chicken, Parmesan, Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil, Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Wheat Couscous, Toasted Pine Nut, Wild Mushroom & Herb, Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Pearled Couscous, and Basil & Herb Pearled Couscous.

Rice pilaf products:

Original Rice Pilaf, Brown Rice Pilaf, Lentil Rice Pilaf, Chicken Rice Pilaf, Spanish Rice Pilaf, Garlic & Herb Rice Pilaf, Roasted Chicken and Garlic Rice Pilaf, Original Long Grain and Wild Rice, Garlic and Herb Long Grain and Wild Rice, Roasted Vegetable & Chicken Long Grain & Wild Rice, Sesame Ginger Rice, Toasted Almond Rice Pilaf, and Wild Mushroom & Herb Rice Pilaf.

Quinoa, whole grain and tabouleh products:

Roasted Red Pepper & Basil Quinoa, Rosemary & Olive Oil Quinoa, Zesty Lemon Quinoa, Mediterranean Medley Quinoa, Roasted Pecan & Garlic, and Tabouleh Mix.

What does the Settlement provide?

Settlement Class Members who submit a valid Claim Form with Proof of Purchase by August 24, 2020 will receive $1.25 for each box claimed that is supported by Proof of Purchase.  Settlement Class Members who do not have proof of their purchase who submit a valid Claim Form by August 24, 2020 will receive $1.25 per box claimed for up to six (6) boxes.  Claimants who do not submit Proof of Purchase are limited to one (1) claim per Household.  In addition, Golden Grain will modify the packaging of its Near East Products for a period of five (5) years.

How do you get Benefits?

You must submit a valid Claim Form by August 24, 2020.  Claim Forms may be obtained on the Settlement Website, www.branninsettlement.com, and may be submitted online or via U.S. mail.

Your other options.

(1)   Do nothing.  If you do nothing, your rights will be affected and you will not receive a settlement payment. 

(2)   Exclude yourself.  If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, and want to preserve your right to sue the Defendant for any claim resolved by this Settlement, you must exclude yourself from it by August 24, 2020. If you exclude yourself, you cannot obtain any payment from the Settlement. 

(3)   Object. If you stay in the Settlement (i.e., don't exclude yourself), you may object to it by August 24, 2020.  You can both file a Claim Form and object.  More information is in the detailed Notice and Settlement Agreement available at www.branninsettlement.com.

The Court's Fairness Hearing. The San Francisco Superior Court, located at 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, California, will hold a hearing in this case on November 5, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to consider whether to approve: (1) the Settlement; (2) Class Counsel's request for an award of attorneys' fees, costs and expenses of up to $500,000; and (3) incentive awards to each of the three Class Representatives of $5,000.  If approved, these fees, costs and expenses and incentive awards will be paid separately by the Defendant.  You may appear at the hearing, but you do not have to.  You may also hire your own attorney, at your own expense, to appear or speak for you at the hearing.

Your deadline to act is August 24, 2020. To obtain more information, please visit www.branninsettlement.com or call 844-491-5737.

SOURCE Heffler Claims Group