A Quebec court is set to determine whether a proposed class action lawsuit against Tim Hortons can move forward, after a group of customers were mistakenly told they had won fishing boats during the company’s 2024 Roll Up to Win contest. The authorization hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Montreal courthouse.
The lawsuit, filed by Montreal-based law firm LPC Avocats, stems from a mass email sent to Tim Hortons app users last April, summarizing their contest winnings. Some customers were surprised to find they had supposedly won a fishing boat and trailer valued at $55,000. However, the company later clarified that these messages were sent in error.
Tim Hortons acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to “human error” in the creation of the promotional email. A spokesperson said the recap was meant to be a lighthearted summary of users’ participation but had mistakenly included incorrect prize information for some guests.
LPC Avocats is seeking court-ordered “specific performance,” meaning they want the court to compel Tim Hortons to honor the prize promise and deliver the boats to affected users. The firm is also seeking unspecified damages and an additional $10,000 in punitive damages per class member, citing the company’s history of similar errors. In 2023, Tim Hortons had reportedly informed customers they had won a $10,000 prepaid gift card, only to later retract the claim.
Attorney Joey Zukran, who filed the suit, said his client is not motivated by money but by the principle of receiving the prize he was told he had won. “You owe them compensation or punitive damages because you’re a repeat offender,” he told Global News.
Tim Hortons has stated it believes the case lacks merit and intends to challenge the lawsuit in court. The company has not issued a new statement ahead of the hearing. As the case proceeds, the court’s decision will determine whether Tim Hortons could be legally obligated to hand over the mistakenly promised prizes.
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