Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Tea Leaves Tell Tales: Jury Awards $2.36 Million for Bigelow’s “Manufactured in the USA 100%” Label
On April 8, 2025, a California jury found that R.C. Bigelow, Inc., the well-known manufacturer of Bigelow teas, intentionally or recklessly misled consumers by claiming that some of its teabags were “Manufactured in the USA.” Generally speaking, “Made in the USA” labels, or those containing similar language, require the underlying product be “all or virtually all” made in the United States. The Bigelow tea products at issue in the California case of Banks v. R.C. Bigelow, Inc. (No. 2:20-cv-06208), however, failed to measure up. The price for this mislabeling was steep, with the jury awarding the class action plaintiffs $2.36 million.
Not Their Cup of Tea: The Beginning of a Saga
Nearly five years before the verdict was read, on July 13, 2020, a group of California plaintiffs filed a putative class action against Bigelow for the way it labeled several of its tea products. Banks v. R.C. Bigelow, Inc., 536 F. Supp. 3d 640, 644 (C.D. Cal. 2021) (hereinafter “Bigelow I”). This list included some of Bigelow’s self-described “Most Popular Teas” such as Bigelow “Constant Comment” Black Tea, Bigelow Earl Grey Black Tea, and Bigelow English Teatime Black Tea, among several others. See, id., Most Popular Teas, Bigelow.
This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW.
- Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
- Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
- Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts
Already a have an account? Sign In Now Log In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office
A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.
Bit Parts
Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.