Fairlife Lawsuit: Complete 2026 Guide to the Animal Cruelty Class Action Cases

The Fairlife lawsuit is actually a series of class action cases alleging that Fairlife LLC and its parent company, The Coca-Cola Company, misled consumers by marketing their milk products as coming from humanely treated cows — while undercover investigations repeatedly documented severe animal abuse at supplier farms. The original case resulted in a $21 million settlement that was finalized in 2022 (that claim window is now closed). A brand-new lawsuit was filed on February 26, 2025, and as of early 2026, it is still working its way through federal court with no settlement yet reached. Taylor Swift Copyright Lawsuits

Quick Answer: The first Fairlife class action settled for $21 million in 2022. The claim deadline for that settlement has passed. A new lawsuit — Bhotiwihok et al. v. Fairlife LLC et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-1650 — was filed in February 2025 and is ongoing. No new claim can be filed today because no settlement has been announced. This guide covers the full history of both cases, what the 2025 lawsuit alleges, and what to watch for. Facial abuse lawsuit

What Is the Fairlife Lawsuit About?

Background of the Lawsuit

Fairlife sells “ultra-filtered” premium milk products — including its widely recognized Core Power protein shakes — at prices significantly higher than conventional dairy. The brand has built its identity around the promise that its cows live extraordinarily well, a message woven into everything from the company’s name to its packaging and marketing materials.

That promise has been challenged repeatedly. Starting in 2019, the nonprofit Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) released undercover video footage from Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana, a flagship Fairlife supplier. The footage showed calves being stabbed with steel bars, kicked, and subjected to extreme heat that led to deaths. The public backlash was swift and severe, and class action lawsuits followed almost immediately.

After a $21 million settlement closed in 2022, many consumers assumed the chapter was over. It wasn’t. ARM investigators returned to Fairlife-affiliated farms in 2023 and 2024, this time targeting Arizona suppliers Rainbow Valley Dairy and Butterfield Dairy. Their findings were, according to the new lawsuit, even worse than what was documented in 2019 — described in the complaint as “the worst, most widespread, egregious, systemic, frequent, and extreme cruelty and neglect yet.”

Timeline of Key Events

Who Filed the Lawsuits?

The original 2019–2022 litigation was led by co-lead counsel from DiCello Levitt (Amy Keller) and Pearson Warshaw (Melissa S. Weiner), representing a nationwide class of consumers who purchased Fairlife products. Defendants included Fairlife LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, Fair Oaks Farms LLC, Mike and Sue McCloskey (founders of Fairlife and Fair Oaks Farms), and Select Milk Producers, Inc.

The 2025 case, Bhotiwihok et al. v. Fairlife LLC et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-1650, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division. Three consumers are named as lead plaintiffs, again targeting Fairlife LLC, Coca-Cola, Select Milk Producers, and the McCloskeys.

What Are the Allegations?

Both lawsuits center on the same fundamental claim: that Fairlife charged a premium price for its products based on a false promise of humane treatment, and that consumers would not have paid that premium had they known the truth.

The 2025 complaint adds several new angles:

• False animal welfare marketing — Fairlife’s packaging, website, and advertising represent that cows receive above-standard care and live “fair lives,” despite documented systematic abuse at supplier farms across Indiana and Arizona
• “Humane-washing” — Using feel-good marketing claims about animal welfare to justify premium pricing while cows are allegedly subjected to what the complaint calls “criminal-level cruelty”
• Environmental misrepresentation — Supplier farms have been linked to water pollution, including dumping of calf carcasses near waterways, contradicting Fairlife’s sustainability claims
• Recycling fraud — Fairlife’s packaging carries a “Recycle Me” label, yet the plastic bottles are allegedly not recyclable in most U.S. municipalities
• Continued deception post-settlement — After settling in 2022, Fairlife publicly claimed it had improved its animal care standards; the new lawsuit argues those claims were themselves false

Who Qualifies for a Fairlife Settlement?

Quick Answer: The 2022 Fairlife settlement is fully closed — no claims can be filed. The new 2025 lawsuit has not yet reached a settlement. There is no claim form to file today. If a settlement is reached in the 2025 case, people who purchased Fairlife products after February 26, 2021 (California residents) or another date TBD may qualify. Check back for updates.

The 2022 Settlement — Now Closed

To understand the framework that may apply to a future settlement, it helps to know who qualified for the 2022 deal.

Covered Products in the 2022 Settlement

The 2022 settlement covered a broad range of Fairlife and Fair Oaks Farms products including:

Who Does NOT Qualify (Under 2022 Rules)?

Under the 2022 structure, you were excluded if:

• You purchased products after April 27, 2022
• You purchased for commercial resale (not personal use)
• You were a defendant, officer, or director of any defendant company
• You were a judge assigned to the case
• You missed the December 27, 2022 claim deadline

What the 2025 Lawsuit’s Potential Class Might Look Like

Based on the complaint filing, the 2025 case initially targets California residents who purchased Fairlife products on or after February 26, 2021. However, since the case is still in litigation, the final class definition — including who qualifies nationally — has not been set. Biote Lawsuit: 2026 Complete Guide

How Much Money Was Paid Out in the 2022 Settlement?

Quick Answer: The 2022 Fairlife settlement fund totaled $21 million. Eligible claimants received up to 25% of their average retail purchase price. Maximum payouts were $80 with proof of purchase, $20 without, or up to $100 if you combined both. Payments have already been distributed to those who filed on time.

Settlement Fund Breakdown (2022 — Final)

Payout Tiers (2022 Settlement — Historical Reference)

Actual payments could go higher or lower than the maximum caps, depending on how many total claims were filed. If fewer claims came in, each person’s share could have been proportionally higher. Final per-claimant amounts were determined after the December 2022 deadline.

Important Note on the 2025 Lawsuit

No settlement amount has been announced for the 2025 case. Given that the 2022 settlement was $21 million — described as one of the largest ever in an animal welfare labeling case — any new settlement would likely be shaped by the scale of new allegations, the size of the class, and what both sides negotiate. No predictions can be made responsibly at this stage.

Current Lawsuit Status and Latest 2026 Updates

The 2025 Case Is Still in Early Litigation

The new lawsuit, Bhotiwihok et al. v. Fairlife LLC et al., Case No. 2:25-cv-1650, is in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. As of February 2026, it has not settled, no claims process is open, and no final class has been certified.

February 2026 Court Ruling

In a significant development reported on February 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II issued a ruling on the defendants’ motions to dismiss. Key outcomes:

• Logo claim survives — The judge ruled that Fairlife’s brand name and logo could reasonably be interpreted by consumers as a representation that the animals involved live a “fair life.” This claim can proceed.
• Website reliance claims dismissed — Several claims alleging consumers were misled by statements on Fairlife’s website were dismissed because plaintiffs hadn’t adequately shown they relied on those specific representations.
• “Recycle Me” claim partially survives — The judge agreed the recyclability claim could be misleading under California law, though a state safe harbor provision blocks enforcement until later in the year.
• Coca-Cola dismissed — The parent company was dismissed from this iteration of the lawsuit because plaintiffs hadn’t adequately tied Coca-Cola to the specific deceptive conduct alleged.
• Plaintiffs given leave to amend — The judge allowed plaintiffs to revise their complaint to address the dismissed claims.

This ruling keeps the case alive but narrows it. Plaintiffs will likely file an amended complaint, and litigation will continue through 2026.

Recent Developments Timeline

How to Stay Informed — No Claim to File Right Now

Because the 2025 lawsuit hasn’t settled, there’s no claim form, no deadline, and no settlement administrator to contact. Here’s what you can do in the meantime.

Monitor the Case

• Court docket: The case is Bhotiwihok v. Fairlife, Case No. 2:25-cv-1650, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Western Division). Court filings are publicly accessible through PACER (pacer.gov).
• Settlement news aggregators: Sites like TopClassActions.com and ClassAction.org will publish updates when a settlement is announced.
• Sign up for class action newsletters to be notified if and when a claim period opens.

Save Your Purchase Records Now

If you’ve purchased Fairlife products since February 2021 — including Core Power shakes, Fairlife ultra-filtered milk, or any Fairlife branded item — start saving documentation now. If a settlement is reached, having purchase records could mean the difference between a higher payout tier and a minimal one.

Useful documentation to save:

• Store receipts (paper or email)
• Physical product labels (bottles, cartons)
• Bank or credit card statements showing grocery purchases
• Loyalty card purchase histories (Kroger, Safeway, Target Circle, etc.)
• Amazon or grocery delivery order histories

Required Documentation (For Future Reference)

The Fairlife Lawsuit vs. Similar Cases

How This Settlement Compares

What Makes the Fairlife Cases Unique

The Fairlife litigation stands out from typical food labeling lawsuits for a few reasons. First, the presence of graphic undercover video footage — released to the public and media — gave plaintiffs unusually strong evidentiary support for their claims that corporate representations didn’t match reality.

Second, the fact that a $21 million settlement and a public commitment of $40+ million toward animal welfare failed to prevent a second major lawsuit demonstrates the legal theory of ongoing and unresolved deception.

Third, the 2025 case broadens the original claims to include environmental misrepresentation and recycling fraud, giving the litigation multiple independent legal theories to survive on even if some are dismissed. Carnival Triumph Lawsuit

Do You Need a Lawyer to File a Future Claim?

Quick Answer: No. In a class action settlement, you typically do NOT need a lawyer to file your own claim. The process is designed to be handled directly by consumers. However, legal consultation may help if your situation is complex.

Filing Without a Lawyer

When the 2022 settlement was open, anyone could file a claim online in minutes without any legal help. Class action settlements are specifically structured so that individual class members can participate without hiring attorneys. The lawyers who negotiated the settlement are paid from the settlement fund itself, not by individual claimants.

The same will almost certainly be true of any future Fairlife settlement. Claim forms are typically straightforward, and settlement administrators are available by phone and email to answer questions.

When Legal Help Might Be Useful

Consider talking to a lawyer if:

• You believe you have individual damages beyond what a class settlement covers
• You want to opt out of the class and pursue an independent claim
• You have documentation of unusual or unusually high purchases that might make a higher individual claim worthwhile
• You want to object to the terms of any eventual settlement before it’s approved

Free Consultation Options

Many of the law firms that handle class action consumer cases offer free consultations. You can also contact the attorneys of record directly once they are announced for any new settlement. For general attorney referrals: admin@bestlawyersinunitedstates.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fairlife lawsuit?

Quick Answer: It’s a series of class action lawsuits alleging Fairlife falsely marketed its milk products as coming from humanely treated cows while undercover investigations documented systemic animal abuse at supplier farms.

The lawsuits allege “humane-washing” — using feel-good animal care claims to justify premium pricing — while the reality at supplier farms involved violent abuse of cows and calves. The original case settled for $21 million in 2022. A new case was filed in 2025 and is still in active litigation.

Is there an open Fairlife settlement I can file a claim for right now?

Quick Answer: No. The 2022 settlement closed on December 27, 2022, and payments have already been distributed. The 2025 lawsuit has not yet settled.

There is no active claim period right now. If and when the 2025 case settles, a new claim window will open and will be widely publicized. Sign up for class action news alerts to be notified.

I missed the 2022 deadline — can I still get money?

Quick Answer: No. The December 27, 2022 deadline for the original settlement was final. Courts do not reopen settled claims for people who filed late.

If you missed it, the only path forward is the new 2025 litigation. Keep an eye on that case, and save any purchase records from February 2021 onward.

What products were covered in the 2022 settlement?

Quick Answer: Fairlife ultra-filtered milk (all varieties), Core Power protein shakes, and Fair Oaks Farms dairy products including ice cream, butter, and yogurt purchased on or before April 27, 2022.

A complete product list was available on the settlement website. The settlement covered products across both the Fairlife and Fair Oaks Farms brands.

How much did people get from the 2022 settlement?

Quick Answer: Up to $80 with proof of purchase, $20 without, or up to $100 combining both. Actual amounts varied based on total claims filed.

The $21 million fund was distributed among all valid claimants. If few claims were submitted, individuals may have received more than the caps suggested. Final amounts per claimant were not publicly disclosed.

Who are the defendants in the 2025 lawsuit?

Quick Answer: Fairlife LLC, Select Milk Producers, Inc., Mike McCloskey, Sue McCloskey, and the operators of implicated dairy farms. Coca-Cola was dismissed from this case in February 2026.

The McCloskeys co-founded both Fairlife and Fair Oaks Farms, and Select Milk Producers is the dairy farming and supply operator. Fairlife is now fully owned by The Coca-Cola Company, which previously held a partial stake.

What did the February 2026 court ruling mean?

Quick Answer: A federal judge dismissed some of the 2025 lawsuit’s claims but allowed the core allegation — that Fairlife’s logo misleads consumers about animal welfare — to survive and proceed.

Judge Otis Wright II ruled that the name “Fairlife” on packaging could reasonably imply to consumers that the cows live a “fair life,” making that a valid misleading marketing claim under California law. The recycling fraud claim also partially survived. Plaintiffs can amend their complaint to try to revive dismissed claims.

What is “humane-washing”?

Quick Answer: It’s the practice of making misleading claims about the treatment of animals to market products at a premium price — similar to “greenwashing” for environmental claims.

Both Fairlife lawsuits center on this concept. Fairlife’s marketing has consistently emphasized that its cows live better lives than those at conventional dairies. Plaintiffs argue this is demonstrably false based on video evidence, and that consumers paid more for the product specifically because of those representations.

What did the undercover investigations find?

Quick Answer: ARM investigators at Fairlife supplier farms documented calves being hit with steel bars, kneed in the spine, subjected to deadly heat, denied food and water, and in the 2024 Arizona investigation, what the lawsuit calls “criminal-level cruelty” by managers and workers.

The 2019 investigation at Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana sparked the original lawsuit. ARM returned to farms in 2023 and to Arizona suppliers in 2024, finding what it described as worse conditions than before — including botched euthanasia attempts and animals being struck with metal objects, knives, and screwdrivers.

Did Fairlife admit wrongdoing in the 2022 settlement?

Quick Answer: No. As is standard in class action settlements, Fairlife and the other defendants settled without admitting liability or wrongdoing.

Settling does not mean a defendant accepts that the allegations are true. It means both sides agreed that resolving the case for $21 million was preferable to continuing costly litigation with uncertain outcomes.

What injunctive relief came out of the 2022 settlement?

Quick Answer: Fairlife’s supplier farms had to undergo annual third-party audits, mandatory animal handling training, and bans on employing people convicted of animal cruelty — for three years after the settlement.

The specific requirements included annual third-party farm audits, new and refresher training on humane animal handling, barring people with criminal animal cruelty convictions from animal-facing roles, ensuring no animal goes unfed for more than 24 hours (except in emergencies), and implementing routine veterinary visits.

Why is there a second lawsuit if Fairlife already settled?

Quick Answer: Because the 2022 settlement only covered purchases up to April 27, 2022, and the new lawsuit alleges that animal abuse has continued — and arguably gotten worse — since then.

The plaintiffs in the 2025 case argue that not only did abuse continue, but that Fairlife used the 2022 settlement itself as marketing — claiming to have made improvements that, per the complaint, never materialized. That allegedly makes the post-settlement period a fresh instance of deceptive advertising.

Can I opt out of any future Fairlife settlement?

Quick Answer: Yes. In every class action settlement, you have the right to opt out and preserve your ability to sue independently.

Opting out means you won’t receive any settlement payment, but you can pursue your own claims. This rarely makes financial sense for individual purchases, but may be worth considering if you believe you have unusual individual damages. An attorney can help you evaluate this.

Will a future Fairlife settlement payout be taxable?

Quick Answer: Possibly. Settlement payments that represent a refund of overpayment (a return of money you already spent) are generally not taxable, but the IRS rules can be complex. Consult a tax professional.

Most consumer class action payouts are treated as adjustments to the purchase price and are not reported as income. However, if you receive a payment that includes any punitive or interest component, that portion could be taxable.

How do I track updates on the 2025 Fairlife lawsuit?

Quick Answer: Monitor court filings through PACER (pacer.gov) using Case No. 2:25-cv-1650, or watch TopClassActions.com and ClassAction.org for settlement news.

You can also set a Google Alert for “Fairlife lawsuit settlement” to receive email notifications when new articles are published. This is the most passive way to stay informed without having to check periodically.

What if I want to report animal abuse I’ve witnessed?

Quick Answer: Contact the Animal Recovery Mission (arm-tv.org) or your local animal welfare authority. You can also report to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

If you have direct knowledge or evidence of animal abuse at a dairy farm, documentation and reporting to the relevant authorities could be legally significant.

Where can I find the official case documents for the 2025 lawsuit?

Quick Answer: Court filings are publicly available on PACER at pacer.gov. Search for Case No. 2:25-cv-1650 in the Central District of California.

PACER charges a small per-page fee for document downloads, but basic case information (docket entries, filing dates) can be viewed at low cost. Some documents may also be accessible through CourtListener (courtlistener.com), which offers free access to many federal court documents.

Lawsuit Overview at a Glance

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information reflects publicly available court records and news sources as of February 2026. If you have questions about your specific legal situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. The 2022 Fairlife settlement claim period has passed; there is no currently open claim period for the 2025 lawsuit.