Don Julio Lawsuit 2025, What Courts Decided & Who’s Affected
Diageo filed motions to dismiss class action lawsuits alleging Don Julio and Casamigos tequilas contain non-agave alcohol on October 29, 2025 (Florida) and November 1, 2025 (New York). Three separate lawsuits claim the premium tequilas labeled “100% agave” actually contain significant cane alcohol. Courts have not yet ruled on Diageo’s dismissal motions as of December 2025. Consumers who purchased Don Julio or Casamigos products may be eligible to join the class action.
What Is the Don Julio Lawsuit About?
Three class action lawsuits filed in federal courts in New York (May 5, 2025), Florida (May 15, 2025), and California (July 4, 2025) allege Diageo falsely markets Don Julio and Casamigos as “100% agave” tequilas while the products allegedly contain significant concentrations of cane or other non-agave alcohols.
The Core Allegations
Laboratory testing revealed Casamigos Blanco allegedly contains only 33% agave-derived ethanol and Casamigos Reposado contains 42% agave-derived ethanol, according to plaintiffs in the New York case. The California lawsuit includes lab results claiming Don Julio Blanco and Don Julio 1942 Añejo also contain similar low levels of agave-derived ethanol.
The lawsuits allege this violates both U.S. and Mexican regulations requiring “100% agave” tequilas to be produced exclusively from Blue Weber agave sugars.
Most Recent Legal Developments (October-November 2025)
Diageo’s Motions to Dismiss
On October 29, 2025, Diageo filed a motion to dismiss the Florida class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, calling the allegations “implausible” and lacking “legal and logical merit”.
On November 1, 2025, Diageo filed a second motion to dismiss the New York class action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, arguing the plaintiffs’ claims lack factual and scientific foundation.
Diageo’s Defense Arguments
Diageo claims the lawsuits are based on “incomplete and vaguely described results from a single European company’s ‘test'” that used only one sample from Casamigos and one from Don Julio, neither of which plaintiffs themselves purchased.
In its Florida filing, Diageo compared the plaintiffs’ testing theory to “someone claiming the earth is flat because he saw a test result somewhere that says his neighbour’s backyard is level”.
Who Filed the Lawsuits and Who Are the Plaintiffs?
New York Case (Filed May 5, 2025)
Three plaintiffs filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York: Avi Pusateri (New York-based mixology instructor), Chaim Mishulovin, and Sushi Tokyo Inc. (a Brooklyn restaurant). Case number: 1:25-cv-02482.
The plaintiffs seek to represent anyone who purchased Diageo’s Don Julio or Casamigos products in New York or New Jersey during the applicable statute of limitations.
California Case (Filed July 4, 2025)
California resident Jacqueline Jackson filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco division), stating she purchased at least four bottles of Don Julio Blanco between April and May 2025.
This lawsuit alleges RICO violations (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) and seeks to represent “all persons who purchased Diageo Premium Tequila Products” in the United States.
Florida Case (Filed May 15, 2025)
Nabil Haschemie filed the lawsuit in Miami-Dade County, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on May 15, 2025.
What Evidence and Testing Results Were Presented?
Carbon Isotope Ratio Analysis
Plaintiffs’ attorneys claim carbon isotope ratio analysis proves Casamigos and Don Julio products contain substantial quantities of alcohol that is not tequila, with approximate breakdowns of alcohol content provided in the California complaint.
According to the New York lawsuit, Casamigos Blanco contains only 33% agave-derived ethanol, while Casamigos Reposado contains 42%—levels that fall below the 51% required even for a mixto tequila.
Diageo’s Response to Testing
Diageo describes the test as “scientifically unvalidated” and argues plaintiffs have not alleged any flaw in Diageo’s tequila-making process, any failure of internal controls, any disclosure, investigation, judicial finding, or any whistle-blower to support their claims.
What Is the Current Status of the Cases?
As of December 2025, the Florida court has not yet ruled on Diageo’s motion to dismiss filed on October 29, 2025. The New York and California cases also remain pending without court rulings on the dismissal motions.
All three lawsuits are in early stages with no trial dates set or settlements announced.
Who Is Affected by This Lawsuit?
Affected Consumers
Consumers who purchased Don Julio or Casamigos tequila products marketed as “100% agave” may be affected, including:
- Don Julio Blanco
- Don Julio 1942 Añejo
- Casamigos Blanco
- Casamigos Reposado
- Other Don Julio and Casamigos products labeled “100% agave”
The California lawsuit seeks to represent millions of potential plaintiffs who purchased these products nationwide.
Geographic Scope
- New York case: New York and New Jersey residents
- California case: U.S. nationwide consumers
- Florida case: Florida residents and potentially broader
What Damages and Relief Are Being Sought?
The New York plaintiffs seek $5 million in damages on behalf of affected consumers, along with an injunction requiring Diageo to halt allegedly deceptive labeling and marketing practices.
Plaintiffs are suing for violations of state consumer protection laws, unjust enrichment, and are seeking class action certification, damages, legal fees, costs, and a jury trial.
What Are the Legal Claims Against Don Julio?
False Advertising and Consumer Protection Violations
The lawsuits claim violations of New York and New Jersey consumer protection laws, arguing consumers paid premium prices for products falsely labeled as “100% agave”.
RICO Allegations (California Case)
The California complaint alleges RICO violations, accusing Diageo of “fraudulent scheming” and “racketeering” by knowingly mislabeling products as 100% agave when they allegedly contain industrial alcohol.
Regulatory Violations
Plaintiffs argue the products violate both U.S. regulations (TTB – Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) and Mexican regulations (NOM-006, overseen by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila) requiring “100% agave” labels to be produced exclusively from Blue Weber agave.
What Is Diageo’s Defense Strategy?
Diageo maintains that “all bottled Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas labelled as ‘100% agave’ are just that, proudly made from 100% Blue Weber agave,” citing CRT certification and TTB label approval.
Diageo argues the complaint “relies on nothing more than rumour, speculation and conjecture,” and that plaintiffs “do not, because they cannot, allege any flaw or vulnerability in Diageo’s meticulous and rigorously monitored tequila-making process”.
Diageo’s motion states that validating the plaintiffs’ claims would require believing “hundreds of people involved in the making of Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas—farmers, Diageo employees and scientists, independent government-authorised regulators and others—are lying and complicit in a massive, years-long consumer deception”.
What Are the Potential Outcomes?
If Plaintiffs Win
- Financial compensation for consumers who purchased affected products
- Injunctive relief requiring Diageo to reformulate products or change labeling
- Industry-wide impact on tequila labeling standards and enforcement
- Increased scrutiny of CRT certification processes
If Diageo Prevails
- Dismissal of all three lawsuits
- Validation of current certification and testing processes
- Continued sale of products with “100% agave” labeling
Settlement Possibility
Class action lawsuits often settle before trial. No settlement discussions have been publicly disclosed as of December 2025.
What Should Affected Consumers Do?
Join the Class Action
Consumers who purchased Casamigos or Don Julio products may be entitled to compensation and can contact Hagens Berman law firm to learn about their rights.
Visit: https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/casamigos-don-julio-tequila
Preserve Evidence
- Keep receipts showing Don Julio or Casamigos purchases
- Document purchase dates and locations
- Photograph product labels showing “100% agave” claims
- Note which specific products you purchased (Blanco, Reposado, 1942, etc.)
Monitor Case Developments
Watch for:
- Court rulings on Diageo’s motions to dismiss (expected in early 2026)
- Class certification decisions
- Settlement announcements
- Trial dates if cases proceed
No Immediate Action Required
Class members are automatically included if they fall within the class definition and purchased products during the relevant time period. No upfront costs or fees are required to participate.
What Does This Mean for the Tequila Industry?
Industry Context
Diageo acquired Casamigos (co-founded by George Clooney) in 2017 for up to $1 billion, and Casamigos sold around 3 million cases in 2023, making it the world’s fourth-largest tequila brand. Together with Don Julio, these brands rank among the top five best-selling tequilas worldwide.
Broader Implications
The lawsuits cite reporting about Mexican agave farmers protesting in early 2025 against alleged corruption in the tequila industry, accusing the CRT of colluding with large tequila companies to drive down agave prices while allowing adulterated products.
If proven, these allegations could undermine consumer trust in premium tequila certifications and force regulatory reforms in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Don Julio lawsuit about?
Three class action lawsuits allege Don Julio and Casamigos tequilas contain non-agave alcohols despite “100% agave” labels, violating consumer protection laws.
Q: When were the Don Julio lawsuits filed?
May 5, 2025 (New York), May 15, 2025 (Florida), and July 4, 2025 (California).
Q: What are the most recent developments in December 2025?
Diageo filed motions to dismiss in October-November 2025. Courts have not yet ruled on these motions as of December 2025.
Q: Who can join the Don Julio class action lawsuit?
Consumers who purchased Don Julio or Casamigos products labeled “100% agave” in the U.S. during the applicable statute of limitations may be eligible.
Q: What testing evidence do plaintiffs have?
Carbon isotope ratio analysis allegedly showing Casamigos Blanco contains only 33% agave ethanol and Casamigos Reposado contains 42% agave ethanol.
Q: How does Diageo respond to the allegations?
Diageo denies all allegations, calling them “implausible” and stating all products are made from 100% Blue Weber agave with full CRT certification.
Q: How much money are plaintiffs seeking?
The New York lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages plus injunctive relief requiring label changes or product reformulation.
Q: When will the court rule on the lawsuits?
No ruling dates have been announced. Courts typically take several months to rule on motions to dismiss filed in October-November 2025.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about ongoing litigation. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult an attorney for specific legal guidance about your situation.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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