Retail Customers File Lawsuits Over Tariffs Against FedEx and Ray-Ban Maker

Customers seek refunds after Supreme Court ruled Trump tariffs were imposed without legal authority

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

At least two retail customers have filed proposed class-action lawsuits against companies FedEx and EssilorLuxottica (maker of Ray-Ban sunglasses) that have sued in trade court to recoup costs from import tariffs the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Trump imposed without legal authority. The lawsuits aim to ensure consumers get a share of any refunds the businesses receive.

Why it matters

The lawsuits highlight the broader impact of the Supreme Court's ruling that invalidated an estimated $130 billion to $175 billion in tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. As companies line up to seek refunds, consumers are now also pursuing legal action to get their money back from the illegal tariffs.

The details

The federal court lawsuits were brought by Matthew Reiser of Miami against FedEx and Nathan Ward of New York against EssilorLuxottica. Reiser claims he paid $36 in tariffs and fees on tennis shoes shipped via FedEx, while Ward says he purchased Ray-Ban sunglasses online that were priced higher due to a tariff surcharge. The complaints state the companies' pledges to return tariff refunds to customers are not legally enforceable.

  • On February 20, the Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
  • The refund process through the U.S. Court of International Trade or U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to be worked out in the coming days or months.

The players

Matthew Reiser

A Miami resident who filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against FedEx, claiming he paid $36 in tariffs and fees on tennis shoes shipped via FedEx.

Nathan Ward

A New York resident who filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against EssilorLuxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban sunglasses, claiming he purchased Ray-Bans online that were priced higher due to a tariff surcharge.

FedEx

A delivery company that has been sued by a customer seeking a refund of tariffs the company collected.

EssilorLuxottica

The French eyewear company that makes Ray-Ban sunglasses and has been sued by a customer seeking a refund of tariff surcharges the company collected.

Barry Appleton

The co-director of the Center for International Law at New York Law School, who expects many more consumer lawsuits to surface against companies that collected tariff-related charges.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“What we are watching is the predictable next chapter of the IEEPA story. The Supreme Court told the White House it overreached, the major importers lined up for refunds, and now ordinary consumers are asking the obvious question — if those duties were illegal, why shouldn't we get our money back too?”

— Barry Appleton, Co-director of the Center for International Law at New York Law School (The Seattle Times)

What’s next

The refund process either through the U.S. Court of International Trade or the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is set to be worked out in the coming days or months as the various lawsuits and claims make their way through the government systems.

The takeaway

The consumer lawsuits against FedEx and EssilorLuxottica highlight the broader impact of the Supreme Court's ruling that invalidated billions in tariffs imposed by the Trump administration without legal authority. As major companies seek refunds, ordinary consumers are now also pursuing legal action to recoup the tariff-related charges they paid.