Topps Class Action Alleges 2025-26 NBA Chrome Mega Boxes Were Falsely Advertised as Containing Blue X-Fractor Cards
A proposed class action lawsuit filed against The Topps Company, Inc. alleges the trading card giant falsely advertised its 2025-26 NBA Chrome Basketball Trading Card Mega Boxes by promoting the chance to pull ultra-rare Blue X-Fractor cards — a chance that, due to a printing error, never actually existed. Topps revealed in a mid-January 2026 email that there was “zero chance” a consumer would pull a Blue X-Fractor card out of a Mega Box. The case, Adoni v. The Topps Company, Inc., No. 0:26-cv-60187, was filed January 23, 2026, in federal court in Florida. No settlement has been reached. The case is in its early litigation stage.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Lawsuit Type | Proposed Class Action — False Advertising |
| Defendant | The Topps Company, Inc. |
| Case Name | Adoni v. The Topps Company, Inc., No. 0:26-cv-60187 |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida |
| Date Filed | January 23, 2026 |
| Current Status | Proposed Class Action — Litigation Phase (No Settlement) |
| Who May Be Affected | U.S. consumers who purchased Topps NBA Chrome Mega Boxes from authorized retailers |
| Settlement Amount | None — litigation is ongoing |
| Claim Deadline | TBD — no settlement or claim process exists yet |
| Official Settlement Website | None — case has not settled |
Current Status and What Happens Next
This lawsuit is in its earliest stage. A plaintiff filed the complaint on January 23, 2026, and the case has not yet been certified as a class action. No settlement has been proposed or approved.
Here is where the case stands:
- Filed: January 23, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- Class certification: Not yet filed or granted
- Settlement: None — this is a litigation-phase case
- Claim filing: No claim process is available at this time
- Next steps: Topps will likely respond to the complaint; the court will later consider whether to certify a class
Consumers cannot file a claim or receive compensation at this time. Check back for updates as the case develops.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
The 15-page lawsuit contends that Topps, one of the largest trading card producers worldwide, deceptively labeled the NBA Mega Box sets at issue with statements about the Blue X-Fractor cards — the most prized, valuable cards with the highest resale value.
The core allegation is straightforward. Topps included statements on its Mega Boxes that encouraged consumers to “Chase Exclusive Blue X-Fractors,” leading buyers to reasonably believe they had a chance to obtain a rare X-Fractor card within a Mega Box. In reality, due to an apparent printing error on product packaging, that chance never existed.
Though the defendant initially told consumers that only some Mega Boxes did not contain any Blue X-Fractor cards, Topps thereafter confessed that no Mega Boxes contained the prized cards.
The lawsuit points to Topps’ own actions as evidence of the misrepresentation’s impact on price. After the email was sent, Topps changed the packaging of its Mega Boxes to remove any references to the X-Fractor cards and also slashed the price of the set from $84.99 to $49.99. The suit argues that the price drop amounted to an “acknowledgement” by Topps that the false chance to obtain a Blue X-Fractor card increased the Mega Boxes’ market value.
The lawsuit alleges that consumers paid a premium price for a product that did not deliver what it promised. The complaint contends that “Topps’ Misrepresentation deprived Plaintiff and the Class of the benefit of their bargains, in that they purchased the Mega Box based on Topps’ express representation they could pull an ‘Exclusive Blue X-Fractor’ card, when in reality that was never a possibility.”
Related article: Unilever / SmartyPants Class Action Claims Children’s Vitamins Falsely Advertise Fiber and Nutrient Content
Who Could Be Included
The Topps class action lawsuit looks to represent all consumers in the United States who purchased a Mega Box from Topps or any of its authorized retailers during the applicable statute of limitations period, excluding purchases made on a secondary market.
In plain terms, the proposed class would cover:
- Who: U.S. consumers who bought a 2025-26 NBA Chrome Basketball Trading Card Mega Box
- Where purchased: Topps directly or any authorized retailer (brick-and-mortar or online)
- Exclusions: Purchases made on secondary markets (e.g., eBay resellers, third-party collectors)
- Timeframe: The applicable statute of limitations period (TBD — to be determined during litigation)
The class has not yet been certified by a court. The court will evaluate whether the case meets the legal requirements for class certification at a later stage of litigation.
Prior Cases and Industry Context
The Topps Mega Box lawsuit fits into a broader pattern of legal challenges targeting trading card companies over what consumers receive — or don’t receive — when they buy sealed products.
On March 18, 2022, a plaintiff filed a class action against Topps alleging that card packs advertising the coveted “redemption” card constituted an unlawful lottery. Three days later, the same plaintiff filed a similar class action against Panini based on largely the same allegations. On January 25, 2023, the court granted Topps’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint in its entirety, with prejudice.
The current Mega Box lawsuit differs from prior cases in one key respect: it does not allege an unlawful lottery. Instead, it alleges straightforward false advertising — that Topps promoted a card it knew or should have known would never actually appear in the product.
A separate antitrust class action filed in July 2025 against Fanatics — Topps’ parent company — alleges that Fanatics conspired with major U.S. sports leagues to monopolize the trading card market, resulting in inflated prices and reduced consumer choice. That case is separate and distinct from the Mega Box false advertising lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a class action lawsuit?
It is a proposed class action. The lawsuit was filed January 23, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. A judge has not yet certified it as a class action. Class certification is a separate legal step that comes later in the litigation process.
Has a settlement been approved?
No. This case is in the early litigation phase. No settlement has been proposed, negotiated, or approved. There is no claim filing process available at this time.
Who may be eligible to participate?
The lawsuit looks to represent all consumers in the United States who purchased a Mega Box from Topps or any of its authorized retailers during the applicable statute of limitations period, excluding purchases made on a secondary market. Eligibility will be formally defined if and when a class is certified.
Is there a claim form available?
No. Because no settlement exists, there is no claim form or official settlement website. Consumers cannot take any action to join or file a claim at this stage.
What product is at the center of this lawsuit?
The lawsuit focuses on the 2025-26 NBA Chrome Basketball Trading Card Mega Box, which Topps advertised as giving consumers a chance to pull the ultra-rare Blue X-Fractor cards. Topps later confirmed that, due to a printing error, no Mega Boxes actually contained those cards.
What does Topps say about this?
Topps has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit. The complaint was filed on January 23, 2026, and the litigation is in its earliest stage. Topps has not admitted any wrongdoing.
What happens next?
Topps will be served with the complaint and will have the opportunity to respond — likely by filing a motion to dismiss or an answer. If the case survives early legal challenges, the plaintiff will seek class certification. A settlement could be reached at any point during this process.
Why did Topps cut the price of the Mega Box?
After disclosing the printing error, Topps slashed the price of the Mega Box set from $84.99 to $49.99. The lawsuit argues this price reduction amounts to an acknowledgment that the advertised chance to pull a Blue X-Fractor card added market value to the product.
Additional Context
The Topps Mega Boxes are sold as a collection of random player cards, with each card varying in value and consumers unable to discern which trading cards a box will contain before it is opened. The Blue X-Fractor cards were marketed as the most desirable and valuable cards in the set, with the highest potential resale value.
The lawsuit highlights a key issue unique to the collectibles market: consumers pay upfront for a sealed product whose contents are unknown, and their purchasing decisions depend heavily on the odds and representations printed on the packaging. When those representations turn out to be inaccurate — whether through error or otherwise — consumers have little recourse beyond litigation.
This article will be updated as the case progresses through the courts.
Last Updated: March 4, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.
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.
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