Hair Loss Lawsuit Over Chaz Dean Products Receives Preliminary Settlement Approval

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Hair Loss Lawsuit Over Chaz Dean Products Receives Preliminary Settlement Approval
Hair stylist Chaz Dean. Getty Image

A federal judge in Los Angeles Friday gave his preliminary stamp of approval to a $26.3 million settlement in a class action row featuring celebrity stylist Chaz Dean’s haircare products.

The lawsuit, filed in 2014, claimed Dean’s line of Wen by Chaz Dean shampoos and conditioners caused substantial hair loss and scalp irritation. The class settlement, which must still receive final approval from U.S. District Court Judge Otis Wright III, will notify some 6 million class members they are eligible for an award of up to $20,000.

Santa Monica-based direct marketing distributer Guthy-Renker, No. 20 on the Business Journal’s list of private companies with estimated 2015 revenues on $1.7 billion, is also a named plaintiff in the suit. The company has sold the Wen by Chaz Dean line of products through online platforms, mall kiosks, and home television shopping networks such as QVC.

Representatives for Dean and Guthy-Renker did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Related Link: Could hair care line be washed up after class action?

In addition to the class action, the Wen line of products is also under scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration, which began looking into the haircare products in 2011 after numerous consumer complaints. While agency spokeswoman Lauren Sucher declined in August to comment on the Wen products specifically, she said it does sometimes work with the Department of Justice on enforcement actions.

“In some cases we can work with the Department of Justice to seize a product in order to keep it off the market,” she said. “While we can’t order a recall of a cosmetic, we can request one and work with companies to make sure their recalls are effective.”

The class action settlement includes tiers of payouts for consumers who bought the product with payouts starting at $25. Lawyers on the case will receive $6.5 million.

Deals & Dealmakers reporter Henry Meier can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @henry_meier.

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