October 12, 2007

The Daily Business Review reports that U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga has rejected a proposed settlement concerning allegedly defective air purifiers sold by The Sharper Image. The settlement would have given $19 coupons to over two million owners of "Ionic Breeze." The judge concluded that the proposed settlement violated the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005. That law was intended, inter alia, to curb coupon-only settlements.

Sharper Image's "precarious financial situation" did not affect her decision, Altonaga said.