Consumers Launch Legal Action Over Tariff Refunds Against Major Corporations
In a significant development following a landmark Supreme Court decision, at least two retail customers have initiated proposed class-action lawsuits against prominent companies, including delivery giant FedEx and French eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban sunglasses. These legal actions aim to secure consumer shares of refunds from tariffs that have been declared illegal, adding a new layer to the ongoing fallout from the trade dispute.
Background of the Tariff Controversy
The lawsuits stem from a ruling on February 20, 2026, where the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which were estimated to be worth between $130 billion and $175 billion. The court found that former President Donald Trump lacked the legal authority to implement these import taxes, prompting a wave of corporate and consumer claims for reimbursement.
More than 1,000 companies, such as Revlon and Costco, have already filed suits in the U.S. Court of International Trade to preserve their rights to refunds. A refund process is expected to be established through either this court or U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the coming days or months, as numerous lawsuits and claims navigate government systems.
Details of the Consumer Lawsuits
In one case, Matthew Reiser of Miami filed a complaint against FedEx on Friday, February 27, 2026. Reiser claims he paid $36 in tariffs and related fees for tennis shoes shipped via FedEx by Tennis Warehouse Europe, an online retailer based in Germany. Despite FedEx's statement on Thursday pledging to return any tariff refunds to shippers and customers, Reiser argues that this pledge "creates no legally enforceable obligation and is expressly contingent on future government and court guidance that may never materialize." FedEx has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
In a separate proposed class action filed this week, Nathan Ward of New York alleges that he purchased Ray-Ban sunglasses from ray-ban.com in August 2025 at a higher price due to a tariff surcharge. The complaint states, "Despite seeking an order entitling it to a refund of the duties collected as a result of the subject tariffs, EssilorLuxottica continues to collect and has not refunded the tariff surcharges it collected from consumers." EssilorLuxottica has also not provided a comment on the matter.
Expert Analysis and Future Implications
Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at New York Law School, commented on the situation, noting that he expects many more consumer lawsuits to emerge, particularly against companies that issued itemized tariff charges on invoices or receipts. He explained, "What we are watching is the predictable next chapter of the IEEPA story. The Supreme Court told the White House it overreached, the major importers lined up for refunds, and now ordinary consumers are asking the obvious question — if those duties were illegal, why shouldn’t we get our money back too?"
Appleton added that while the legal viability of these cases is not clear-cut, they exert pressure on businesses to share any tax refunds they secure. This development highlights the broader impact of trade policies on everyday consumers and underscores the complexities of refund processes in the wake of judicial rulings.
As these lawsuits progress, they could set precedents for how tariff refunds are distributed between corporations and consumers, potentially influencing future trade-related litigation and consumer protection efforts in the retail sector.
