Edelson Lechtzin LLP is proud to announce that managing partner Eric Lechtzin has been appointed interim co-lead class counsel in a closely watched consumer class action against Nikon. On October 27, 2026, United States Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks of the Eastern District of New York consolidated two related lawsuits into a single proceeding, now captioned In re Nikon Tariff Refund Litigation, and named Mr. Lechtzin to lead the case alongside Patrick Wallace of Lee Segui PLLC and Andrew W. Ferich of Ahdoot & Wolfson, PC.
What the Case Is About
The litigation grows out of the Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, which in February 2026 struck down the tariffs the prior administration had imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). While those tariffs were in effect, companies like Nikon raised the prices consumers paid at the register, passing the tariff costs directly onto their customers.
Now that the tariffs have been declared unlawful, importers are lining up to recover refunds from the federal government — and billions of dollars are already being returned. But there is a catch. Only the importer of record can claim those refunds. Consumers who actually footed the bill through inflated prices are left out entirely. The result is a potential double recovery: the company pockets both the overcharge it collected from shoppers and the refund it collects from the government.
The lawsuit seeks to return that money to the people who paid it, asserting claims for unjust enrichment, money had and received, and deceptive business practices under New York law.
Did You Overpay Because of the Trump Tariffs?
Nikon is not the only company that may have profited this way. Edelson Lechtzin LLP is actively investigating similar conduct by other importers, including:
- Polaris Inc. — Polaris ATVs and related products
- Richemont — including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Chloé, Net-a-Porter, and other brands
- Swatch Group — including Omega, Blancpain, Harry Winston, Longines, Tissot, and Hamilton, among its 16 watch and jewelry brands
If you purchased products from any of these companies at tariff-inflated prices, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Edelson Lechtzin LLP today for a free, confidential consultation to learn about your rights. There is no cost to speak with us, and you owe us nothing unless we recover on your behalf.