The parent company of the Stanley tumbler cups, Seattle-based Pacific Market International (PMI), has been accused in a new class action lawsuit of failing to properly compensate customers for a lid defect that resulted in the recall of 2.6 million mugs.

  • The lawsuit was filed in late December by Danielle Scherzi, a New York resident who claims she’s one of the consumers who were denied refunds after it was revealed some of the cups’ lids would detach during use, exposing customers to burn hazards and spill risks.


PMI reportedly refused to refund affected customers, instead offering “clearly inferior” replacement lids to those who hadn’t yet discarded the cups, the lawsuit alleges.

“Stanley refuses to give customers any money back for these defective products,” Scherzi alleged in the suit. “Instead, Stanley implemented a deficient recall that allows it to say they are doing the right thing, when in fact, the primary objective is to protect their bottom line.”

The complaint also accuses PMI of knowing about the defect before releasing the products yet still selling them with marketing claims like “leak-proof,” “spill-proof” and “durable.”

PPAI Media has reached out to PMI for comment.

About The Recall

Stanley’s drinkware is popular among promo clients, and the Stanley Quencher was arguably the hottest promotional product of 2023.

Stanley informed consumers back in December about a recall of its Switchback and Trigger Action travel mugs after 91 global reports of faulty lids and 38 burn injuries, including 11 that required medical attention, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

  • The stainless-steel travel mugs, which were sold in a variety of colors and sizes, featured a Stanley logo on the side and bottom of the mug.
  • Consumers who bought the products, which have been sold in popular retailers and e-commerce sites since 2016, were advised to contact Stanley to receive a free replacement lid, which should render the product safe to use.

Legal Battles

In August, PMI requested that a federal judge in Seattle throw out a different class action lawsuit after the company allegedly failed to warn customers that its products contain lead. 

Last January, many customers took to social media to share stories about using at-home tests to determine whether there’s lead in any of their Stanley products. 

PMI responded by admitting that lead is used as part of the tumbler’s vacuum insulation, but that a stainless-steel layer prevents the toxic metal from coming into contact with consumers.

Last month, PMI and Amazon filed a joint lawsuit against counterfeiters alleged to have sold fake products using the brands’ names in the e-commerce market.