CHICAGO, October 7, 2026 – Corvane Ryle LLP today announced that a federal jury returned a unanimous verdict for its client Halvern Retail Group, a NYSE-listed specialty retailer, in a consumer class action that challenged the way the company marketed and administered its loyalty program. The jury found that the plaintiffs had not proven that Halvern's program disclosures were misleading and that the class had not suffered the damages it claimed.
The plaintiffs, who represented a certified class of loyalty program members, alleged that changes to the program's reward terms violated state consumer protection statutes and amounted to a breach of contract. They sought restitution and damages for what they described as an unfair reduction in the value of accumulated points. After a trial of nine days, the jury deliberated for less than a day.
The Corvane Ryle trial team was led by Owen Castellanos, a litigation and trial partner in New York. Grace Whitcombe, a partner in Chicago and head of the firm's Consumer Protection practice, advised on the regulatory framework and on the company's program disclosures. Theo Abernathy, a consumer protection associate in Washington, D.C., played a central role in the expert work and in the preparation of the trial record.
The matter had previously been the subject of a successful motion that narrowed the claims before trial. The company has said it will continue to operate the loyalty program on its current terms.
"This was a case about whether a company can change a rewards program in line with the terms customers agreed to, and the jury concluded that Halvern had done so fairly," said Owen Castellanos. "The verdict reflects the care Halvern took with its disclosures and the discipline of its witnesses."
About Corvane Ryle LLP: Founded in Chicago in 1958, Corvane Ryle LLP has approximately 2,400 lawyers in 26 offices across 14 countries. The firm advises on transactions, regulatory matters and disputes for clients in technology, consumer, healthcare and energy transition. Counsel for what comes next.