Bass Pro Employee $4.95M Tobacco Surcharge Settlement

If you were a participant in the Bass Pro Group LLC Health & Welfare Plan and had a tobacco surcharge deducted from your wages between April 26, 2018, and October 18, 2024, you may be eligible to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

Bass Pro Group LLC has agreed to pay $4,950,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for alleged violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) due to a wellness program that discriminated against employees based on an impermissible health factor.

Who is eligible for a Bass Pro payment?

All participants in the Bass Pro Group LLC employee Health & Welfare Plan who had a tobacco surcharge deducted from their wages from April 26, 2018, through October 18, 2024.

How much is the class action settlement payout?

• Pro Rata Payment: Payment amount will be determined by the total surcharge amount each individual paid during the class period and the overall surcharges paid by the total class.

No action needed to receive a tobacco surcharge payment

Class members do not need to file a claim to receive their settlement payment. Once the court grants final approval of the settlement, checks will be mailed to eligible class members.

$4.95 Million settlement fund

The settlement fund of $4,950,000 includes:

• Settlement administration costs: Determined after claim processing is completed
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $1,650,000
• Attorneys' expenses: Up to $35,000
• Service awards to Named Plaintiff: Up to $10,000
• Payments to class members: Remaining balance after deductions

Important dates

• Final Approval Hearing: May 29, 2025
• Exclusion Deadline: March 31, 2025

When is the Tobacco Surcharge class action settlement payout date?

The final approval hearing is scheduled for May 29, 2025. The court must grant approval to the settlement. Once this occurs, payments will be issued to class members.

Why was there a Bass Pro class action settlement?

The lawsuit alleged that Bass Pro Group LLC violated ERISA by implementing a wellness program that discriminated against employees who used tobacco by not providing a reasonable alternative standard. The settlement avoids costly litigation and provides compensation to affected employees.

Sources

• 1] [Official Settlement Website
• 2] [Class Notice
• 3] [Settlement Website FAQ Page