Coles and Woolies dragged to court—here's what it means for your weekly shop
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Coles and Woolworths were set to face major courtroom battles that could change the way Australians see supermarket discounts.
After years of speculation, a Federal Court decision had cleared the way for shoppers to take on the retail giants.
At the heart of the case were claims that customers had been misled by so-called bargain pricing campaigns.
The Federal Court confirmed that class action proceedings run by Gerard Malouf & Partners (GMP Law) on behalf of shoppers would proceed in tandem with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) separate case against Coles and Woolworths.
To keep costs down and protect customers who joined the class action, the court ordered that the lawsuits be paused until the ACCC’s liability judgment was handed down.
This meant the watchdog’s allegations of false and misleading claims would be tested first.
If the ACCC established liability, the same findings would automatically apply to the class actions, which would then move directly to the question of compensation.
‘This is an important milestone for group members,’ said Gerard Malouf, founder and chairman at GMP Law.
‘The court's decision to align our class action with the ACCC proceedings streamlines the path to justice, reduces costs, and strengthens the prospects of securing fair compensation if liability is established.’
Coles and Woolworths were expected to face separate but linked trials as the cases unfolded next year.
The next case management hearing had been set for next Wednesday in Melbourne.
This video dives deeper into the same concerns raised in the article, highlighting claims of fake discounts and questions about supermarket competition.
Source: Youtube/Guardian Australia
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of impact these supermarket pricing claims could have on your own hip pocket, there’s more to the story.
Beyond the upcoming trials, shoppers have already been exploring their options for possible compensation.
One earlier case from 2022 revealed just how much money could be at stake if misleading tactics were proven.
Read more: Customers could claim up to $5,000 over sneaky pricing tactics at Coles and Woolworths—are you eligible?
The outcome of these cases could determine whether shoppers receive long-awaited compensation for years of disputed discounts—do you believe the supermarkets should pay?
After years of speculation, a Federal Court decision had cleared the way for shoppers to take on the retail giants.
At the heart of the case were claims that customers had been misled by so-called bargain pricing campaigns.
The Federal Court confirmed that class action proceedings run by Gerard Malouf & Partners (GMP Law) on behalf of shoppers would proceed in tandem with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) separate case against Coles and Woolworths.
To keep costs down and protect customers who joined the class action, the court ordered that the lawsuits be paused until the ACCC’s liability judgment was handed down.
This meant the watchdog’s allegations of false and misleading claims would be tested first.
Court aligns class action with ACCC case. Image source: Pexels/Gustavo Fring | Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
If the ACCC established liability, the same findings would automatically apply to the class actions, which would then move directly to the question of compensation.
‘This is an important milestone for group members,’ said Gerard Malouf, founder and chairman at GMP Law.
‘The court's decision to align our class action with the ACCC proceedings streamlines the path to justice, reduces costs, and strengthens the prospects of securing fair compensation if liability is established.’
Coles and Woolworths were expected to face separate but linked trials as the cases unfolded next year.
The next case management hearing had been set for next Wednesday in Melbourne.
This video dives deeper into the same concerns raised in the article, highlighting claims of fake discounts and questions about supermarket competition.
Source: Youtube/Guardian Australia
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of impact these supermarket pricing claims could have on your own hip pocket, there’s more to the story.
Beyond the upcoming trials, shoppers have already been exploring their options for possible compensation.
One earlier case from 2022 revealed just how much money could be at stake if misleading tactics were proven.
Read more: Customers could claim up to $5,000 over sneaky pricing tactics at Coles and Woolworths—are you eligible?
The outcome of these cases could determine whether shoppers receive long-awaited compensation for years of disputed discounts—do you believe the supermarkets should pay?
