To avoid the cost of a trial, and potential risks for both sides, the parties have reached a class action settlement, which was preliminarily approved by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Feb.12, 2014.
Under the terms of the settlement, consumers may be entitled to compensation if you purchased or used the Smoothing Kit in the United States before Feb. 17, 2014. Unilever has agreed to create two funds: a "Reimbursement Fund" of $250,000, to reimburse consumers for their purchase of the Smoothing Kit, and an "Injury Fund" of $10 million to compensate consumers for bodily injuries and for emotional distress that accompanied such bodily injuries. Class members may be eligible to receive a payment from one or both funds.
The court will hold a Final Approval Hearing on July 9, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois. At this hearing the Court will consider whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate and whether to approve Class Representatives' incentive awards and attorneys' fees and expenses to be paid by Unilever.