PRESS RELEASE: Justice Law Collaborative Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Nationwide Insurance
Lawsuit spotlights fraudulent and deceptive business practices targeting pet policies
BOSTON, Mass. (June 4, 2025) – Justice Law Collaborative (JLC) today filed a class action lawsuit against Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Nationwide Veterinary Pet Insurance Company, and National Casualty Company (“Nationwide”), alleging unfair and deceptive business practices, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation.
The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts, claims that pet insurance policyholders were deceived by the marketing of Nationwide’s detailed “nose-to-tail” pet insurance coverage, which overtly promised to “never” drop an insured pet from coverage due to age. In the last year, thousands of pet owners whose policies were dropped began to denounce the insurer, criticizing Nationwide across various social media platforms and forming allegiant groups in support of a class action.
“This lawsuit was triggered by a groundswell of angry pet owners who lost insurance coverage without a modicum of digestible reasoning,” said Paula Bliss, lead attorney, Justice Law Collaborative. “There is an active war being waged on consumers, and in this case, pet protections, as businesses choose profit and deception over fairness. An insurance company that drops long-term consumers just when their pets need coverage the most and after aggressively marketing a promise ‘not to drop your pet because of age’ cannot be trusted…and should be held accountable for bad business practices.”
Filed in the United States District Court/Massachusetts, the complaint details how Nationwide, specifically its pet insurance division, aggressively promoted a guaranteed “Whole Pet” insurance plan that provides ‘nose-to-tail’ coverage for broken bones, sprains, lacerations and poisoning; allergies, ear infections, arthritis, cancer and more; as well as preventative checkups, vaccinations and flea/tick prevention. The insurance company, regarded as the largest pet insurer in the United States, lured consumers to sign up for comprehensive coverage with a promise ‘not to drop your pet because of age.” However, after years of auto-renewing these annual policies, Nationwide decided to drop the Whole Pet Wellness Plan for more than 100,000 pets, leaving families without promised and promoted protections and no alternatives.
Numerous social media posts and comments prove a concerted effort by Nationwide to cancel coverage for pets that were either aging, more senior, or those with significant medical needs, regardless of how long a policy had been in place.
“I just got my cancellation notice for my 4 year old dog. When I signed up they made SUCH A BIG DEAL of this being ‘locked in forever.’ Heartless liars.”
“Got cancelled for my 10-year-old dog in Massachusetts. They won’t offer him any other plans because he’s too old. Have been paying them for 10 yrs now.”
“I have a 4-year-old French Bulldog, and we previously used Nationwide for her pet insurance. Unfortunately, we just found out they dropped our policy without any reason.”
The legal action seeks to hold the insurance giant accountable for unfair and deceptive business practices and to compensate members of the class action whose coverage was outright cancelled and dropped without justification or alternative coverage.
About Justice Law Collaborative
Justice Law Collaborative (JLC) embodies the highest level of professional, trauma-informed legal expertise associated with social justice and advocacy. The firm, led by attorneys with extensive experience in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, wrongful death, medical malpractice, reproductive rights, sexual assault and abuse, and personal injury cases, has represented athletes abused by Olympic coach Larry Nassar, teenagers tormented by hostile, uncertified schools parading as therapy-based programs for troubled teens, and has represented consumers and patients harmed by corporate greed and negligence, specifically the pharmaceutical, reproductive medicine, and tobacco industries. Additionally, JLC is at the forefront of legislative reform, spearheading efforts to modify statutes of limitations and enact new laws to protect the innocent and to provide proper financial and judicial remedies to victims. The firm was ranked a 2025 Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers®, and firm partners have been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyer® and Best Lawyers® lists for multiple, consecutive years. More information about the firm and its far-reaching results can be found at: www.justicelawcollaborative.com.
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Media contact: Wendy Agudelo (for Justice Law Collaborative); wendy@imageprofessors.com
JUNE 4, 2025
Media:
Law360 (June 4, 2025); Nationwide Hit With Suit Over Dropped Pet Coverage
The Columbus Dispatch (June 5, 2025); Nationwide sued over dropping pet insurance coverage in potential class-action case
Insurance News (June 5, 2025); Nationwide sued over dropping pet insurance coverage in potential class-action case
FOX-25 Investigates (June 17, 2025); Mass. dog owners suing Nationwide after pet insurance policies dropped
My Top Insurance (June 17, 2025); Nationwide Hit with Class Action Lawsuit Over Pet Insurance Cancellations
Yahoo! News (June 17, 2025); Mass. dog owners suing Nationwide after pet insurance policies dropped