Martzell, Bickford & Centola and Roche & Company, LLC filed a Class Action against Panini America, Inc. for unfulfilled redemption cards. Michael D. Roche, a New Orleans attorney and longtime collector and seller of sports cards and memorabilia, approached Martzell, Bickford & Centola requesting our assistance in filing a class action lawsuit against Panini America. Roche expressed frustration over the practices and lack of customer service or support in connection with Panini's failure to timely provide autographed cards to consumers after obtaining “redemption cards”, which must be entered on Panini's site where a period of 4 or 8 months for delivery is selected. Panini guarantees that if the actual card is not available within that timeframe, it will deliver a “comparable” card in in its place. Mr. Roche advised that he knew of collectors with numerous open redemptions, some as old as 2 years, who never received a so called “comparable card.” Further, if a “comparable card” is sent, it is rarely anywhere near the value of the actual card the consumer expected to receive.
Our firm acquired a fuller understanding of these impermissible actions by Panini under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as well as other state tort principles, after traveling to Dallas, where Mr. Roche and Mr. Centola met with the named class representative, Kevin Brashear, and took a trip to a local card shop where they spoke to the owners about redemption issues and the lack of Panini customer support. Shortly thereafter, a demand letter with a draft of the class action lawsuit was delivered to Panini. Panini hired a law firm to respond to the letter, but no resolution was achieved. On January 25, 2019, a 48-page complaint was filed on behalf of Kevin Brashear, and the putative class of Plaintiffs he represents, against Panini for its repetitious behavior of inflicting harm on consumers, primarily through its redemption process.
We continue to be pleased and flattered by the overwhelming support that has been shown throughout the sports collection industry in media outlets, news articles and online forums, as well as through the numerous individuals that have already reached out to us to share their stories and displeasure with Panini. We welcome anyone who wishes to share their experiences in the like to contact Lawrence Centola at 504-581-9065 or fill out a free consultaion.
Comments
Ross Vornkahl Reply
Posted Mar 12, 2022 at 11:57:58
Hi, I had a redemption card that I immediately made an account and requested the card, for 2 and a half years I tried in vain to get one response about it, and now a week ago, all trace that I had ever even been waiting vanished. No open or closed tickets, and after a week I got one message asking for the ticket number. I sent them a picture of the physical redemption card, the only proof I have, and have been again ignored completely. I sent hundreds of emails to every address I could find and left dozens of voice messages, so please, I would like to join the cause. My card was going to be worth about 6-8 thousand dollars, and for me, on fixed SSI, that would have been life changing money.
Angel Reply
Posted Apr 22, 2022 at 14:03:01
Please add me to the class action suit. I had to request replacements for 4 cards due o them not fulfilling my redemption. I have 2 Lamelo Ball cards still not redeemed and sent to me. Their October 2021 redemption list states that the cards where signed. Customer told me the don’t have anymore. The cards where numbered to 99. Why do they put out an article stating that they are signed but tell me they don’t have anymore?!
Earl Reply
Posted Aug 22, 2022 at 09:53:08
Panini america wont fulfill redemption card
Mark Regynski Reply
Posted Oct 07, 2022 at 15:09:28
I hope you take all of Panini America’s money. They don’t deserve to be in business with their bait and switch approach.
I have over $3K value in redemptions waiting to be fulfilled going on 2 years. They’ve recently forced an updated Terms and Conditions on any user using their site or engaging in business with their site. In the T&C they’ve capped the max value of any/all redemptions at $1,000. However, they’ve shown that they will never pay.
My most recent email communication from Panini closed one of my open redemption cases and I was awarded 4oo pts which has little value. This was to replace a valuable on card rookie autograph of Chase Young. To make matters worse, 95% of all of my redemptions are of Chase Young and it’s looking like I’ll never see the cards nor will I ever get any value in return as they have marketed.
Again, I hope to never see Panini America sell another product.
Nathan Hale Reply
Posted Dec 06, 2022 at 13:18:04
I have been waiting over a year for replacements. Nobody ever answers the phones. Never have gotten a call back. I have left over 50 messages.
Mike Hocking Reply
Posted Jan 12, 2023 at 10:32:20
Have been calling Panini for over a year, started calling May 2021. Have been getting the run around and no real answers. Panini representatives, said they do not have the card available, to be redeemed. In other words your Panini does not HONOR their redemption cards.
Preston Hanczaryk Reply
Posted Mar 12, 2023 at 18:44:36
I want in. I have a valid redemption card and have never received. Panini is the worst
Anthony ramos Reply
Posted Apr 06, 2023 at 14:54:28
I would like my name added to a class action lawsuit I’ve been robbed by panini they gave me worthless cards as a replacement for a few autographs they could not fulfill
Wes Cooke Reply
Posted May 26, 2023 at 05:40:36
Still at it all this time later. I keep getting assurances that the players are signing but nothing comes to fruition. I have 6 total tickets open going back to 2022 and have a feeling once Panini gets bought out by Fanatics, we will see them file for bankrutpcy and all of us with be going without. Best case scenario, they return the cards long after the players relevancy has expired.
Jim Reply
Posted Jun 25, 2023 at 18:08:01
Still waiting over 2 years for my redemption. Terrible company.
David Venator Reply
Posted Jul 27, 2023 at 16:15:09
Well if this ain’t a kicker. I forgot all about my redemptions it’s been that long. I got a call from fed ex that they tried to deliver to my old address I haven’t lived in for like 10 years. When I asked what’s the package they said it was from Panini. I got the parcel today and it was from redemptions that were done back in 2011!! That’s 12 years of waiting for redemptions and honestly the cards were not really amazing to boot. Can you believe a 12 year wait on cards.
Jim Reply
Posted Aug 11, 2023 at 00:08:36
I have waited 9 years on Vladimir Tarasenko redemptions. I only hope they have HIS replacements, not a bunch of junk
Doug Vicchiarelli Reply
Posted Dec 13, 2023 at 13:25:26
Have been waiting for over a year for my card. Had twice turned down an offer from Panini to send a different card. Finally accepted that offer a month ago. Received an email saying that in some cases they were sending a pack of cards specifically produced as replacements for the redemptions. It is a very disappointing substitution. That was a month ago and as of now I still have not received anything.
Daniel Nicholson Reply
Posted Feb 01, 2024 at 16:58:59
Got a email today after 4 years waiting for my redemptions. They said two justin jefferson rookie autographs don’t equal $50. What? They go for thousands.
Michael nappi Reply
Posted Jan 26, 2025 at 09:32:58
I have never really pulled good cards cuz there’s no good cards in their boxes I finally got two redemptions I’ve waited over a year and a half and they’re telling me it should ship this year or they can give me a replacement of an item but they have no idea if it’ll be the same or same value and it’s a very important player Bijon Robinson /99 rookie patch autograph and an Anthony Edwards autograph is my other redemption that I’m sure I won’t see forever I just pulled that one 6 months ago but I know it’s not coming they say they don’t have them but I can look online and find the exact same card with the exact card numbers cuz they tell you what the card number is on your redemption ticket I can see them on eBay for sale so people have gotten them and as a chance game like lottery that’s what this is compared to you’re supposed to be able to enter without purchase necessary in all lottery games offered by companies I believe there’s a class action lawsuit against that right now them and tops but I don’t understand how there’s no class action lawsuit against them for the redemption process you can’t give people a promise of a card and then not provided and if you can’t provide it they should be able to talk about a valid replacement which they can’t tell you what product you might get if it’s a card if it’s a box if it’s the similar value or if you’re going to be sent a card that’s worth 10 bucks when you’re redemption was worth thousands I would love to hear back from anybody that’s willing to pursue this they make all this money they out their prices of their boxes thousands of dollars my nephew wants autographs basketball card box yeah it should be expensive $600 $500 not bad but they got boxes $2,000 it’s like who are you kidding you’re robbing us and then you’re not even giving me what I’m told I’m going to get when I do receive a redemption this process has to change this has to be illegal
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