CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Panera faces a class action lawsuit alleging it markets its Sip Club as all-you-can-drink but places limitations on it in the fine print.
Ryan Lee filed suit Aug. 20 in Michigan federal court against Panera Bread Company over its Unlimited Sip Club, for which members pay a $10.99 monthly fee for coffee, tea, soda and lemonade. Customers are being misled into thinking refills are "unlimited."
One promo promises "endless NEW Charged Lemonades, coffees, teas and soda," the suit says.
"However," the suit says, the fine print reveals that the 'Unlimited" offer of "Any size. Any Time" means only 'once every 2 hours. Plus unlimited refills while you're in the cafe.'
"Consumers expect a beverage subscription represented - directly or indirectly - as an unlimited service, to allow for an unlimited number of redeemed drinks and refills."
Lawyer Spencer Sheehan is pursuing the case.