NEW YORK CITY, New York: At least two retail customers have filed proposed class-action lawsuits in U.S. courts against companies for reimbursements in import taxes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump's tariffs were illegal.

The federal court lawsuits are against delivery company FedEx and French eyewear company EssilorLuxottica, which makes Ray-Ban sunglasses. More than 1,000 companies, including large corporations like Revlon and Costco, filed lawsuits in the U.S. Court of International Trade to preserve their right to reimbursement.

On February 20, the Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). These tariffs were estimated to be worth between US$130 billion and $175 billion.

In the coming days or months, the government is expected to decide how refunds will be handled, either through the U.S. Court of International Trade or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Many companies have already filed lawsuits to make sure they qualify for refunds.

FedEx said this week it would pass on any tariff refunds it receives to the shippers and customers who originally paid them. However, a lawsuit filed on February 27 by Matthew Reiser of Miami argues that FedEx's promise is not legally binding and depends on future government and court decisions that may never happen.

Reiser says he paid $36 in tariffs and related fees for tennis shoes shipped through FedEx by Tennis Warehouse Europe, an online retailer based in Germany. FedEx did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In another proposed class-action lawsuit filed this week, Nathan Ward of New York claims he bought Ray-Ban sunglasses in August 2025 at a higher price because of a tariff surcharge. The lawsuit says EssilorLuxottica is still collecting these extra charges from customers even as it seeks refunds for the tariffs, and has not returned any money to consumers. The company also did not respond to requests for comment.

Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at New York Law School, said more consumer lawsuits are likely, especially against companies that clearly list tariff charges on receipts. He said the legal outcome of these cases is uncertain, but they increase pressure on businesses to share any refunds they receive.

Appleton added that this situation is the expected next step after the Supreme Court's decision: the court ruled that the government went too far, large importers are now seeking refunds, and consumers are beginning to ask why they should not also get their money back if the tariffs were illegal.