LANSING – Today, Michigan Attorney General Nessel provided updates on three settlements with national corporations.
AG Nessel Secures Settlement with Menards Regarding Deceptive Rebate Advertising and Price Gouging
Attorney General Nessel has announced a $4.25 million multistate settlement with Menard Inc., a home improvement retail chain. The settlement resolves claims that the company deceptively marketed its merchandise credit check program (commonly known as the “Menards 11% Rebate Program”) and engaged in price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The States investigated a number of problems with Menards' sales practices, including allegations that:
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The company’s prolific use of “11% OFF” or “11% OFF EVERYTHING” advertising falsely claimed a point-of purchase discount, when Menards actually only offered an in-store merchandise credit for future purchases;
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Menards' advertised prices reflected an 11% discount, which wrongly implied that customers could realize a savings at the time of purchase.
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Menards failed to appropriately disclose the material limitations of the rebate program because the disclaimers were in small print and removed from the discount representation;
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Menards told customers that “Rebates International” is a separate entity responsible for its 11% off program, when it is actually the same company; and
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Menards engaged in price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Advertisements should inform customers, not deceive them,” Nessel said. “My office will continue working with attorneys general across the country to protect consumers from misleading marketing practices.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Menards will make several changes to its advertising and sales practices, including:
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A prohibition from advertising or representing that any program that offers store credit for making purchases at Menards provides consumers with a point-of-purchase discount;
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Clearly and conspicuously disclosing material limitations of the rebate program and disclosing all applicable terms and conditions of the rebate program in a readily available manner;
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Investigating whether and to what extent it can offer a process by which consumers can safely and securely submit rebate application forms and receipts online;
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Investigating whether and to what extent it can offer a process by which consumers can safely and securely redeem their rebate for online purchases;
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Clearly and conspicuously disclosing that Menards is doing business as Rebates International;
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Allowing consumers at least one year from the date of purchase to submit a rebate claim;
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Updating their online rebate tracker with information about the rebate claim within 48 hours of the application being input into Menards’ system;
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Updating their online rebate tracker with additional information about the rebate, including updates about returns affecting the rebate; and
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A prohibition from engaging in price gouging during a period of abnormal economic disruption.
As part of the settlement, the company will pay $4.25 million to the multistate group, which includes a payment of $637,641.06 to the State of Michigan.
Joining Attorney General Nessel in this settlement, which was co-led by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, are the Attorneys General of Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota.
AG Nessel Announces Multistate Settlement with Hyundai and Kia for Their Sales of Vehicles Lacking Industry-Standard, Anti-Theft Technology
Attorney General Nessel announced that Michigan, along with 34 other attorneys general, has reached a settlement with automobile manufacturers Hyundai and Kia over their sale of millions of vehicles nationwide that lacked industry-standard, anti-theft technology. This failure resulted in an epidemic of car thefts and joy riding across the country that continues to threaten public safety. Under the settlement, Hyundai and Kia have agreed to:
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Equip all future vehicles sold in the United States with industry-standard, engine immobilizer anti-theft technology;
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Offer free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners or lessees of eligible vehicles, including vehicles that previously were only eligible for the companies’ software updates;
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Provide up to $4.5 million in restitution to eligible consumers whose cars are damaged by thieves; and
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Pay $4.5 million to the states to defray the costs of the investigation.
"Hyundai’s and Kia’s failure to include adequate anti-theft technology in millions of vehicles put countless Michiganders at risk,” Nessel said. “This settlement holds the companies accountable for compromising our public safety and provides meaningful relief to customers. I encourage all eligible Kia and Hyundai drivers to take advantage of the free hardware fix to better protect their vehicles.”
The attorneys general pressed Hyundai and Kia to do more to protect consumers, and through this settlement, Attorney General Nessel has ensured that all consumers with eligible vehicles can have zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors installed on their vehicle free of charge.
Eligible consumers will have one year from the date of notice from the companies to make an appointment to have the zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector installed at their local Hyundai or Kia authorized dealerships. Attorney General Nessel urges consumers to schedule the installation of the zinc-reinforce ignition cylinder protector as soon as possible.
In addition, consumers who previously installed the software update on their vehicles (or were scheduled to do so) but nonetheless experienced a theft or attempted theft of their vehicle on or after April 29, 2025, are eligible to file a claim for restitution for certain theft and attempted-theft related expenses. For more information about eligibility and how to submit a claim for compensation from Hyundai or Kia, please visit the settlement website.
The attorneys general of Connecticut, Minnesota, and New Hampshire led the multistate settlement, and were assisted by California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, and Washington. The final settlement was also joined by Arizona, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
AG Nessel Gives Consumers Instructions on Accessing $700 Million Google Settlement
Attorney General Nessel is directing consumers’ attention to new information and instructions to receive funds from a $700 million settlement with Google secured by the Attorney General and a coalition of 52 other attorneys general. On December 2, 2025, consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023 and were harmed by Google’s anticompetitive practices began receiving notices about the distribution process for the settlement funds. Most affected consumers do not need to take further action to receive a payment from the settlement fund. The settlement fund will make the majority of payments automatically, and no claim form is necessary in most cases.
Once the settlement has been approved by the court, consumers will receive an email from PayPal or a text from Venmo notifying them of their incoming payment at the email address or mobile phone number associated with their Google Play account. If that email address or phone number is also associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then the payment will be made directly to that account. If that email address or phone number does not match an email address or phone number associated with a PayPal or Venmo account, then consumers have the option to create a new account or direct the payment to a PayPal or Venmo account at another email address or phone number.
There will be a supplemental claims process after the automatic payments process is complete for consumers who either:
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Do not have an existing PayPal or Venmo account and do not want to sign up for PayPal or Venmo;
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No longer have access to the email address or mobile phone number associated with their Google Play account; or
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Were expecting to receive a payment but did not.
“For almost seven years, Google conducted anticompetitive practices that held back innovation and hurt consumers,” Nessel said. “I am proud of the work this coalition has done to secure this settlement, and I encourage eligible Michiganders to make sure they receive the compensation they’re owed.”
If consumers would like to be notified by email when the supplemental claims process starts, they may submit their name, email address, and mobile phone number on the settlement website.
Attorney General Nessel encourages all affected consumers to keep track of important upcoming dates in the settlement approval process:
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Consumers who do not want to receive payment from the settlement fund and want to bring their own case against Google must submit a request to be excluded online or in writing by February 19, 2026.
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Consumers who want to object to the settlement can file a written objection by February 19, 2026.
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The court will hold a hearing on April 30, 2026, to consider whether to approve the settlement.
Joining Attorney General Nessel in securing this settlement are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai’i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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