Greenies Lawsuit 2026: No Open Settlement, No Claim Form, and Why the 2007 Case Is Closed
Quick Answer
- Is it legit? No open consumer settlement exists. The 2007 case is closed and paid out years ago.
- How much? $0. No fund is open for claims, and no per-person payout is available.
- Deadline? None. Any page offering a Greenies claim form is not reporting a real settlement.
You searched for the Greenies lawsuit because you saw a headline, an ad, or a social post suggesting there was money to claim for your dog. There isn’t.
Greenies did face a real class action in the mid-2000s over claims that the treats caused blockages and deaths. That case settled in September 2007 with confidential terms and no public claim fund . The product was reformulated, and the case closed.
What exists in 2026 is a different lawsuit. Paragon Pet Products Europe is suing Mars over the “#1 Vet Recommended” claim on Greenies packaging. That case is about advertising, not pet injuries, and it does not create a consumer payout .
This article separates the closed 2007 case from the active 2026 lawsuit, explains why no claim exists, and tells you what to do if your dog was actually harmed.
The Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case (2007) | Gartin v. S & M NuTec LLC, settled September 2007 |
| Court (2007) | U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri |
| Status (2007) | Closed. Dismissed with prejudice. Terms confidential. |
| Fund Size (2007) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Est. Per Person (2007) | Not disclosed. No public claim process. |
| Claim Deadline (2007) | Closed. No deadline exists in 2026. |
| Administrator (2007) | Not publicly appointed |
| Proof Needed (2007) | Not applicable. No open claim. |
| Active Case (2026) | Paragon Pet Products Europe v. Mars Inc., S.D.N.Y. |
| Status (2026) | Pending. No consumer fund. |
Is the Greenies Lawsuit Real or a Scam?
The Greenies lawsuit is real, but it is not an open settlement. The original class action was filed in 2006 and settled in September 2007. The case is closed .
The confusion comes from the word “lawsuit.” There are two separate legal matters involving Greenies:
- The 2007 class action: Pet owners claimed the treats caused gastrointestinal blockages, injuries, and deaths. S&M NuTec, the manufacturer, settled. Terms were confidential. The product was reformulated .
- The 2026 false advertising case: Paragon Pet Products Europe sued Mars Inc. in the Southern District of New York over the “#1 Vet Recommended Dental Chew” claim. That case is about marketing, not pet injuries. It is still pending .
Neither case offers a claim form for pet owners in 2026. The first is closed. The second is a business dispute between competitors.
If a page tells you to “check eligibility” or “file a claim” for Greenies, it is not describing either of these cases accurately.
How Much Is the Greenies Settlement Payout?
The payout is $0 for any pet owner in 2026. There is no open fund.
The 2007 settlement terms were never publicly disclosed. Court records show the case was dismissed with prejudice after a joint request from both sides. The settlement amount, class size, and payment structure were kept confidential .
That is not unusual. Many class actions settle with confidential terms, especially when the defendant wants to avoid setting a public precedent. But it means there is no published payout figure to cite, and no money sitting in a fund waiting for claimants.
The 2026 Paragon case is not a class action settlement. It seeks an injunction and refunds, but no settlement has been reached. No fund exists .
Key Takeaway: No Greenies settlement fund is open in 2026. The 2007 case closed with confidential terms. Any page promising a payout is inventing it.
How Do You File a Claim for the Greenies Lawsuit?
You cannot file a claim because no claim process exists. There is no official settlement website, no claim form, and no administrator accepting submissions.
Here is what a real settlement claim process looks like, so you can compare:
- A lawsuit is filed and certified as a class action.
- A settlement is reached and approved by a judge.
- A claims administrator is appointed.
- An official website goes live with a claim form.
- A deadline is set for class members to file.
- Payments go out after final approval.
For the 2007 Greenies case, step one happened. Steps two through six happened outside public view because the settlement was confidential. No public claim window was opened.
For the 2026 Paragon case, step one happened. Steps two through six have not happened. There is no settlement to claim against .
If you see a Greenies claim form, do not enter your information. It is not connected to any court.
When Will Greenies Settlement Payments Go Out?
Payments will never go out because no fund exists. The 2007 case is closed. The 2026 case has no settlement.
The 2007 case ended when U.S. District Judge Gary Fenner dismissed it with prejudice in September 2007 after the parties reached a confidential agreement . “With prejudice” means the case cannot be refiled on the same claims.
The 2026 Paragon case has a hearing history, but no settlement. A July 28 hearing was set to consider next steps in the false advertising challenge . That case could take years. If it settles, the terms might include refunds for purchasers, but no such settlement exists now.
Do not wait for a check. None is coming.
Why Was Greenies Sued in the First Place?
Greenies were sued because pet owners claimed the treats did not dissolve as advertised and caused life-threatening blockages.
The original lawsuit alleged that Greenies could lodge in a dog’s esophagus or intestine and fail to break down. The product was marketed as digestible and edible, but plaintiffs said it behaved more like a solid object when swallowed in large pieces .
The numbers were stark. As of March 2006, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine had confirmed 35 complaints involving 34 dogs and one cat. At least 13 dogs reportedly died from complications tied to the product .
One case that drew attention involved a Miniature Dachshund named Burt. His owners said a Greenies treat expanded in his body, and a surgeon removed 3.5 feet of small intestine. They filed a $5 million lawsuit .
Greenies’ founder, Joe Roetheli, said on a February 2006 teleconference that the company had compensated or reimbursed veterinary expenses for no more than 20 fatalities. He maintained the incident rate was one in 8.1 million sold .
The company denied wrongdoing. It settled the class action without admitting fault and reformulated the product to be more digestible .
What Changed After the 2007 Greenies Settlement?
The 2007 settlement led to a reformulation and new packaging warnings. It did not lead to a public compensation fund.
Greenies were reformulated in November 2007 to be more highly soluble. The new formula was designed to break down more effectively during chewing .
Packaging changed too. Labels were updated to remind buyers to match treats to dog size and to monitor pets while feeding. The goal was to prevent dogs from gulping the treat whole .
Mars Petcare acquired the brand and continued the safety testing. The company maintains the reformulated product is safe when used as directed.
No recall was ever issued. The changes were voluntary and part of the settlement .
Reality Check: A real settlement always has a court docket and a named administrator. The Greenies case has a docket, but it closed in 2007. If a page cannot name the court and the administrator, it is not reporting an open settlement.
What Is the 2026 Paragon Lawsuit Against Mars?
The 2026 Paragon lawsuit is a false advertising case over the claim that Greenies are the “#1 Vet Recommended Dental Chew.” It is not a pet injury case, and it offers no consumer payout.
Paragon Pet Products Europe filed the suit in the Southern District of New York. It argues the “#1 Vet Recommended” claim is unsubstantiated. The packaging footnotes, Paragon says, suggest Greenies is not actually recommended by most veterinarians, or even a plurality .
On July 20, the judge granted Paragon’s application ordering Mars to produce substantiation documents, reports, studies, data, and emails supporting the claim .
Paragon seeks an injunction to stop Mars from using the claim, refunds for deceived purchasers, and correction of the advertising. No settlement has been reached. No class has been certified. No claim form exists .
This case is between two pet product companies. It is not a class action on behalf of dog owners.
What Should You Do If Your Dog Was Injured by Greenies?
If your dog was injured by a Greenies treat after 2007, you may have an individual legal claim. You are not part of a class action, and you are not covered by the 2007 settlement.
Here are the steps:
- Stop using the product immediately.
- Document everything. Take photos of the treat, the packaging, and any undigested pieces.
- Get veterinary records. Keep all records of treatment, surgery, and diagnosis.
- Save receipts. Proof of purchase helps establish the product link.
- Report to the FDA. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine tracks adverse events and accepts consumer complaints .
- Consult a product liability attorney. Individual claims are possible, but they require proving causation and damages.
The 2007 settlement is closed. A new injury requires a new case. Many Greenies purchase agreements include arbitration clauses, so check the terms before filing .
What Happens Next
Ongoing: The Paragon false advertising case against Mars continues in the Southern District of New York. No settlement date is set.
Expected 2026-2027: Discovery continues. A ruling on the “#1 Vet Recommended” claim could come, but no timeline is confirmed.
No consumer deadline: There is no claim deadline because no consumer settlement is open. None is expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Greenies lawsuit settlement in 2026?
No. The 2007 case is closed. No new consumer settlement exists.
How much is the Greenies settlement payout?
Nothing. The 2007 terms were confidential. No fund is open.
Can I still file a Greenies claim?
No. The claim window closed with the 2007 settlement. No new claim process exists.
Is the 2026 Greenies lawsuit a class action?
No. The Paragon case is a business false advertising lawsuit, not a consumer class action.
What did the 2007 Greenies settlement pay?
Terms were never disclosed. The company compensated affected owners privately.
Are Greenies safe now?
The product was reformulated in 2007. The company says it is safe when used as directed. Supervision and correct sizing still matter.
What should I do if my dog was hurt by Greenies?
Document the injury, report to the FDA, and consult a product liability attorney about an individual claim.
Did Greenies get recalled?
No. There was no recall. The product was voluntarily reformulated after the settlement.
The Bottom Line
There is no money waiting for you in the Greenies lawsuit. The 2007 case is closed. The 2026 case is about advertising, not pet injuries.
If your dog was harmed, your path is an individual claim, not a class action settlement. Document the injury, report it to the FDA, and talk to a lawyer.
The most important fact: no Greenies settlement fund is open as of October 21, 2026.
