New Jersey Supreme Court Holds that Consumers Cannot Pursue Class Action Claims Against TGI Fridays for Inflated Drink Prices, But May Do So Against Carrabba’s Italian Grill

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued a decision on two consumer class actions under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (“CFA”) and the Truth in Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act (“TCCWNA”).  In two separate cases, consumers sought damages against TGI Fridays and the operator of several Carrabba’s Italian Grill, respectively, alleging unlawful practices with respect to the disclosure of prices for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to customers.

With respect to TGI Fridays, the Court held that the named plaintiffs failed to show that common questions of law and fact predominate over individual issues.  The plaintiff had advanced a “price inflation” theory – that the fraudulent marketing drove up the cost of the drinks – but the Court rejected it noting that its prior decisions had found this theory did not support a claim under the CFA.

With respect to Carrabba’s, on the other hand, the plaintiff’s allegations focused on specific pricing practices, which plaintiff claimed are supported by receipts showing that each customer making this claim was charged different prices for the same brand, type, and volume of beverage in the course of a single visit. Because the proposed class had been redefined to only include customers who make that specific CFA claim, they met the predominance requirement for class certification.

In both cases, the Court found that the plaintiffs had failed to meet the standards for a class action as to their TCCWNA claims. Under TCCWNA, a claimant must prove that they received a written sign (here, a menu), which contained information in violation of a consumer law.  Because each individual claimant would have to prove that they received a menu, the Court held, the cases were not suitable for resolution as a class action.

For more information on class actions, the CFA or TCCWNA, please contact Kathleen Barnett Einhorn, Esq., Chair of the Firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation Group, at keinhorn@genovaburns.com or Jennifer Borek, Esq., Partner in the Complex Commercial Litigation Group, at jborek@genovaburns.com.