Israeli Courts Reject Class Action Lawsuits Against El Al, Food Company, and Apple Licensees
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Israeli courts have rejected a class-action lawsuit against El Al Airlines regarding travel vouchers issued during the "Swords of Iron" war, ruling they were a goodwill gesture. However, a class-action suit was approved against food company Ma'adanei Yaakov for allegedly charging for packaging. Additionally, a class-action was permitted against Apple's Israeli licensees over repair service practices. In a separate settlement, Clalit Health Services will pay NIS 1.1 million to plaintiffs and lawyers from a class-action suit concerning drug coverage, with the court reducing the awarded fees.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- El Al Airlines successfully defended against a class-action lawsuit concerning travel vouchers issued during wartime.
- A class-action lawsuit was approved against Ma'adanei Yaakov for allegedly charging customers for food packaging.
- Apple's Israeli licensees face a class-action suit over alleged violations in repair service procedures.
- Clalit Health Services will pay NIS 1.1 million to settle a class-action suit regarding drug coverage.
- Courts rejected claims that El Al's wartime vouchers violated consumer protection laws.
A Haifa District Court judge has dismissed a class-action lawsuit against El Al Airlines, filed by Rotem Levi and Assaf Aviad. The suit challenged the validity of credit vouchers El Al issued to customers stranded abroad following the outbreak of the "Swords of Iron" war. El Al provided these vouchers, valid until December 31, 2024, for flights until December 30, 2025. The plaintiffs argued that Israeli consumer law mandates a two-year validity for such vouchers, but Judge Ibrahim Bolus sided with El Al, stating the vouchers were a goodwill gesture and not legally mandated. He warned that approving the suit could discourage companies from offering voluntary benefits to consumers.
In a separate case, a Haifa District Court judge approved a class-action lawsuit against the prepared food company Ma'adanei Yaakov and its owner, Yaakov Itach. The suit alleges the company charges customers for packaging, despite the plaintiff, Amit Vargaf, being a serial litigant who initiated the case solely to create a cause for action. Judge Shmuel Mandelbaum found a factual basis for Vargaf's claims, ruling that his intent to sue does not negate the alleged consumer grievance.
Meanwhile, the Central District Court approved a class-action lawsuit against Icon Group and iDigital Store, Apple's licensees in Israel, concerning their repair services. Judge Carmit Ben-Eliezer ruled that the companies may be violating a previous court order by not returning replaced parts to customers and by requiring customers to use their repair services and pay for them. Despite criticizing the plaintiff, Aviel Avni, and his lawyers for misrepresenting facts to the court, the judge decided not to replace them but will consider the issue when awarding costs.
Finally, Clalit Health Services will pay NIS 140,000 to Efraim Kilstock and Michael Daniel, and NIS 960,000 to lawyers Moshe Ben-Dror and Asher Avitan, as part of a class-action settlement. The original lawsuit, filed in 2019, claimed Clalit failed to cover the cost of the drug JARDIANCE DUO for its members. As part of the settlement, Clalit returned NIS 20 million to members who had purchased the drug themselves. The court reduced the plaintiffs' and lawyers' fees by half, citing efficient handling of the case and potential legal uncertainties regarding health funds' status as 'businesses'.
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