Kjessler, et al. v. Zaappaaz, Inc., et al.

If You Bought Customized Silicone Wristbands or Customized Pin Buttons Since 2014, You Could Be Eligible for a Payment from a Class Action Settlement

The Court granted final approval and filed the Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Final Approval of Class Action Settlement on October 14, 2020. There were no appeals to the Settlement.

Pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreements, Defendants continue to make payments into the Settlement Fund. The final payments are scheduled to be deposited in July 2022. We anticipate distribution to valid claims to occur shortly thereafter.

• This is a class action lawsuit about customized silicon wristbands and customized pin buttons, which are types of customized promotional products (CPPs). CPPs are small, inexpensive items most often used by businesses or other organizations for promotional purposes, such as to advertise and market a given brand or piece of information. These products are generally imprinted with a brand name, slogan, person’s name, or some other bit of text or imagery at the customer’s request. For the purposes of this Notice, the term “CPPs” refers only to customized silicon wristband and customized pin buttons.
• Plaintiffs claim that Defendants (listed below) engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to fix, raise, maintain or stabilize the prices of CPPs. Plaintiffs further claim that direct purchasers from the Defendants of customized silicon wristbands and customized pin buttons may recover for the effect that the CPP conspiracy had on the prices of these products. Plaintiffs allege that, as a result of the unlawful conspiracy involving CPPs, they and other direct purchasers paid more for CPPs than they would have paid absent the conspiracy. Defendants deny Plaintiffs’ claims.
• Settlements have been reached with the following groups of Defendants: (1) Zaappaaz, Inc. and its president Azim Makanojiya (together, “Zaappaaz”); (2) Netbrands Media Corp. and its president Mashnoon Ahmed (together, “Netbrands”); (3) Gennex Media, LLC (aka Brandeco L.L.C.) and its CEO Akil Kurji (together, “Gennex”); and (4) Custom Wristbands and its CEO Christopher Angeles (together, “Custom Wristbands”).
• The settlement at issue is for the benefit of a class of persons and entities defined as follows: “All persons or entities in the United States, including its territories and the District of Columbia, who purchased customized silicone wristbands or customized pin buttons within the United States, including its territories and the District of Columbia, directly from one or more Defendants, or any of their predecessors, subsidiaries, or affiliates thereof, and all federal or state government entities or agencies, between June 1, 2014 and the Execution Date.” If you fall within the settlement class definition, you are a “Settlement Class Member.”
• The settlement offers cash payments to Settlement Class Members who file valid timely Claims.
• Please read the notice carefully. Your legal rights will be affected, and you have a choice to make now.

SUMMARY OF YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS		DEADLINE
SUBMIT A CLAIM FORM	This is the only way to get a payment.	December 13, 2020
EXCLUDE YOURSELF	Get no payment. This is the only option that allows you to keep your right to bring any other lawsuit against any Defendant for claims related to this case.	September 23, 2020
OBJECT AND/OR ATTEND A HEARING	If you wish to object to the Settlement, or anything else referenced in the Notice, you must file a written objection. You may also request to be heard at the Fairness Hearing.	September 23, 2020
DO NOTHING	You will forfeit your right to get a monetary benefit from the Settlement, and you will give up your rights to assert claims released by this Settlement against Defendants. If you wish to remain in the Settlement Class to qualify for a payment, you must submit a claim form.	N/A

• These rights and options—and the deadlines to exercise them—are explained in the notice.
• The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the Settlement. Payments will be made if the Court approves the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved.