PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has filed a brief in Ohio federal court as part of an 18-state coalition of attorneys general to oppose a class action settlement for defective Tristar pressure cookers, which exploded and injured consumers.
The brief, the 10th filed by Brnovich relating to the Tristar case, urges the court to reject a proposed settlement in the class action lawsuit against Tristar.
According to the Arizona Attorney General's Office, the current proposed settlement includes 3 million consumers releasing their claims against Tristar, including personal injury claims, and giving $2.5 million in cash to class action attorneys while consumers only receive a $5 warranty and discount coupon for other Tristar products.
“Protecting consumers in the class action settlement process continues to be one of our top priorities,” Brnovich statement read. "Our efforts to date, and the briefs we have filed with bipartisan support, have produced meaningful results for consumers, including improved settlement terms that make sure consumers receive a real benefit from class action settlements that affect their rights."
In the brief, filed under Chapman et al. v. Tristar Products, Inc., et al., Brnovich says the settlement does not comply with federal law because of the cash diversion to lawyers and only a few restrictive coupons going to the consumers, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.