Stanley Cup Maker Seeks Dismissal of Lead Lawsuits

Case Overview: Pacific Market International (PMI), the maker of Stanley cups, is seeking dismissal of a class action lawsuit alleging their products contain lead, arguing no harm has been proven and disputing nationwide class claims.

Consumers Affected: Consumers who purchased Stanley cups.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The manufacturer of the popular Stanley cups, Pacific Market International (PMI), has asked a Seattle federal judge to throw out a proposed nationwide class action lawsuit against it.

The move comes after the company has been hit with a series of class action lawsuits since February alleging that the drinkware contains an unwelcome ingredient: lead.

In April, the cases – brought by six individuals in four different states – were consolidated in Seattle, Reuters reports.The consolidated class action seeks hundreds of millions in damages. 

It claims that the company failed to warn customers about the presence of lead in their products. But PMI argues that the lawsuits do not allege any harm caused by the cups.

On July 31, attorneys for PMI filed a motion to dismiss the claims against it with U.S. District Judge Tana Lin, arguing that the consumers have not demonstrated that the cups are harmful or pose any safety threat.

"That glaring omission cannot be an oversight," the company states in its motion.

PMI argues lawsuits lack evidence of harm

In a separate motion also filed on July 31, PMI also argues that the plaintiffs improperly used Washington state consumer laws to bring claims on behalf of a nationwide class of consumers, and it asked the judge to strike these allegations.

The plaintiffs say they would not have purchased the cups had they known they contained lead, and that they may have potentially been exposed to the dangerous metal. However, they do not claim to have ingested lead. 

PMI has acknowledged on its website that lead is present in the seal for the cup’s vacuum insulation but states that "no lead is present on the surface of any Stanley product that comes into contact with the consumer nor the contents of the product."

Despite PMI’s reassurances, the controversy has gained traction online, with consumers sharing concerns and at-home lead test results on social media.

Lead controversy fuels lawsuits and social media backlash

The Stanley Quencher cups, retailing between $35 and $50, saw a significant sales surge last year, driven by social media, resulting in a tenfold revenue increase to $750 million, according to CNBC.

The lawsuit argues that the tumblers, marketed as "safe" and "stylish," may not be risk-free due to the lead used in the vacuum insulation seal. 

The plaintiffs' claim that PMI had a duty to disclose the use of lead, which they allegedly neglected. 

Lawsuit claims deceptive marketing targeted women consumers

This omission, they argue, misled consumers, particularly young women, who were influenced by aggressive marketing campaigns to purchase the tumblers.

Mackenzie Brown, an attorney and mother of three, is one of the plaintiffs. She claims she was unaware of the lead content in her Stanley cup due to PMI's marketing strategies. Had she been informed, she says, she would not have made the purchase.

The consolidated lawsuit seeks refunds for the purchased cups, punitive damages, and an injunction requiring Stanley to disclose the presence of lead in its products. 

Case Details

• Lawsuit: In Re Pacific Market International, LLC, Stanley Tumbler Litigation
• Case Number: 2:2024-cv-00191
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Jason Dennett (Tousley Brain Stephens)
• Brendan Donckers (Breskin Johnson & Townsend)
• Alan Mansfield (Whatley Kallas)
• Ryan McCarl (Rushing McCarl)
• Rebecca Peterson and Robert Shelquist (Lockridge Grindal Nauen)
• William Doyle and Chris Cantrell (Doyle APC) 
• Daniel Gustafson, David Goodwin and Mary Nikolai (Gustafson Gluek) 
• Lori Feldman (George Feldman McDonald)

Did you purchase a Stanley cup or tumbler? What are your thoughts on the latest development in this case? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.