A class action lawsuit in Canada against Tim Hortons has just been authorized — and if you got a certain email last spring, it could mean you’re eligible for a boatload of compensation.

A Quebec judge authorized the suit on Friday, which was filed by Montreal-based firm LPC Avocats. The case revolves around a major mess-up during the coffee chain’s Roll Up to Win contest.

Back in March and April 2024, the class action lawsuit says that about 500,000 people received an email from Tim Hortons, sent from an official Tims email address, telling them they had won a brand-new powerboat and trailer combo worth $64,000.

The message was personalized with each recipient’s name and other details and, understandably, it got a lot of people very excited.

But Tim Hortons later walked it back, saying the winning emails were sent in error — and that the recipients hadn’t actually won anything.

According to court documents, the Quebec Superior Court found that the email created a « general impression » that the recipients had won, making it a potentially illegal practice under the province’s Consumer Protection Act.

The company didn’t offer any sort of consolation prize either, which the judge noted could seriously shake public trust in app-based contests and helped justify the claim for punitive damages.

The judge ruled that the class action suit could move forward — but only in Quebec, where the relevant consumer protection laws are in place.

Who’s included?

Only Quebec residents are part of the authorized class.

Specifically, it’s open to anyone in the province who got that boat-winning email in March or April 2024 — as long as they didn’t enter the contest through the mail-in essay method (which involved writing a personal Tim Hortons memory).

What’s the suit asking for?

The class action lawsuit is asking the court to make Tim Hortons deliver the boats as promised — or pay out the $64,000 cash equivalent.

It’s also seeking $10,000 in punitive damages for each person involved, plus additional damages for the « excitement, stress and disappointment suffered. »

To back up this claim, court testimony included stories from people who were overjoyed by the supposed win — including one hospitalized woman who told her nurses she’d take them on a cruise. Multiple other customers say they went into a Tim Hortons store to ask if the email was real, where staff — including managers — confirmed it was and celebrated with them.

What’s next?

Now that the suit has been authorized, it can go ahead to trial. At that point, the court will decide if Tim Hortons is legally required to hand over the boats or pay compensation.

There’s no need to take action just yet if you’re in the class — but you can sign up for updates on the class action website.

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Source: ​Narcity – Read More