Federal Judge Grants Final Approval of $31.9 million Settlement with Manufacturer Defendants in High-Profile MDL matter involving 303 Tractor Fluid
A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri granted final approval in late March for a $31.9 million settlement with the Manufacturer Defendants in a nationwide class action matter related to 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid.
White, Graham, Buckley & Carr partners Bryan White and William Carr and co-counsel represented a consolidated group of consumers who alleged the Defendants’ fluid did not meet equipment specifications and, when used on tractors and other vehicles, caused damages. After more than four years of multidistrict litigation, the settlement received preliminary approval in October 2024. Following a final fairness hearing, the presiding judge gave the settlement final approval on March 27.
The settlement provides the class meaningful relief and avoids further potential costs and delays related to additional legal proceedings.
The Hon. Stephen R. Bough of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri certified a class of anyone in the U.S., except Missouri, who bought any of four 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid products that Smitty’s Supply Inc. and CAM2 International LLC., manufactured and/or sold. The purchases must have occurred between Dec. 1, 2013, and October 4, 2024.
Judge Bough’s order also appointed WGBC as one of the class counsel attorneys, and approved incentive awards of $4,500 for each class representative who provided deposition testimony, written discovery responses and documents, and $3,000 for those who only provided written discovery responses and documents. Damage Claim Values will be determined by the amount of the fluid purchased by class members and the specifics of equipment damages submitted by class members, on a pro rata basis. WGBC previously reached a $7.2 million settlement with the Retailer Defendants in the case, leading to a total recovery of $39.1 million in the MDL litigation.
White and Carr have built a strong national specialty practice related to 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid litigation and have successfully represented multiple classes to obtain millions of dollars in claims related to allegations of violations of state consumer protection law, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment involving these products.
