CIT Grants Class Certification in IEEPA Tariff Refund Action
The U.S. Court of International Trade granted Freestyle World, Inc.'s motion to certify a class and appoint class counsel on October 8, 2026, advancing a broad refund suit over duties collected under IEEPA authorities.
On October 8, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade granted plaintiff Freestyle World, Inc.'s motion for class certification and appointment of class counsel in a suit seeking refunds of duties paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The decision converts what had been an individual importer's refund demand into a vehicle capable of aggregating claims across similarly situated importers, which matters well beyond the named party.
For major-firm clients, the certification posture is the concrete procedural thread to monitor: class treatment typically affects who must opt out, how notice and claims administration will run, and whether refund claims are resolved class-wide rather than docket-by-docket. The order as reported addresses certification and appointment only; the scope of the certified class, entry requirements, and the mechanism for quantifying refundable duties are not described in the available reporting and should be confirmed against the docket before any client communication. Counsel should also assess interplay with related appellate and refund proceedings on IEEPA collections, since class-wide mechanics may be shaped by how those track. Next to watch: the certified class definition and schedule, the appointed class counsel's plan, and any stay or consolidation orders affecting parallel refund litigation.