HAGENS BERMAN

Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is investigating claims that the Starbucks Coffee Company (NYSE: SBUX), also based in Seattle, misled consumers by charging hidden fees on bags of coffee beans.

According to published reports, Starbucks recently ended a policy of adding an additional charge to bags of coffee beans weighing less than one pound – including half-pound bags. The fee in some cases may have been as high as $1.50 per bag. The fee was not applied to bags weighing a pound or more.

The state of Massachusetts recently fined Starbucks for failing to adequately disclose the fee to consumers. The surcharge was reportedly tacked on without itemizing the charge on receipts or otherwise notifying customers. In some cases, the fee was listed on receipts but was not identified or explained.

Hagens Berman is investigating this issue to determine if Starbucks violated the law by failing to adequately disclose the fee to consumers.