Are you entitled to $300 USD in the KitchenAid Whirlpool Maytag Class Action Lawsuit Settlement?

Whirlpool has agreed to pay affected consumers in a class action lawsuit settlement after certain models of their fridges sold under three different brands (Whirlpool, Maytag & KitchenAid) developed a frost build-up that interferes with cooling, resulting in costly repairs.

Whirlpool KitchenAid Maytag Class Action Lawsuit

The U.S. Sun reported that Whirlpool has agreed to pay up to $300 USD to consumers who purchased one of their refrigerators starting in 2012. More details on the specific date range are provided below.

Whirlpool has not admitted any wrongdoing in the class action lawsuit settlement but has agreed to pay an undisclosed total sum to eligible consumers.

Class members receive up to $300 USD for repairs and 75% of the original price if the refrigerator is between 1-3 years old.

Details of the Whirlpool KitchenAid Maytag Class Action Settlement 

The class action lawsuit settlement will compensate consumers who purchased certain Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and Maytag refrigerators sold between 2012 and 2019, which were affected by a manufacturing defect that caused excessive frost to accumulate on the evaporator. The serial numbers of the defective models are provided by the manufacturer.

Consumers have been told to check whether their appliance is eligible for searching for its serial number on the settlement website. Class members can receive up to $300 for past refrigerator repairs and replacements, under the settlement terms.

Official Whirlpool Class Action Lawsuit Claim Form Website Information

In the class action lawsuit, Paperno v. Whirlpool Corp., consumers who file a claim may be entitled to cash compensation. The official settlement claim website is here.

The official claim website states:

"Submitting a claim form is the only way to seek benefits relating to a Class Refrigerator that experienced Frost Clog Issues prior to January 31, 2025. Your deadline to submit a claim form is June 18, 2025. For eligible Frost Clog Issue repairs needed after January 31, 2025, you must submit your Claim Form within 90 days of the date of the completion of service on the Frost Clog Issue."

The deadline for consumers to file a claim is June 18, 2025.

The deadline for exclusion and objection was March 21.

The final approval hearing was May 13.

Consumers may be Entitled to Cash Payment in the HexClad $2.5 Million Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, More Details

Did you purchase a Hexclad cookware product after February 1, 2022? If so, you may be entitled to cash from a class action lawsuit settlement against HexClad cookware.

Hexclad Class Action Lawsuit settlement

$2.5 Million Hexclad Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

HexClad has agreed to pay cash to customers in a $2.5 million class action lawsuit settlement to resolve false claims that its cookware was free from toxic chemicals, such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

The lawsuit is: Cliburn v. One Source to Market, LLC dba Hexclad Cookware, Inc.

Allegations in the Lawsuit Against Hexclad

In the lawsuit, HexClad customers claimed in the class action lawsuit that the company's products are not as safe as they seem. According to the class action lawsuit settlement filed by the plaintiff, HexClad cookware does allegedly contain toxic chemicals, such as PFAS and PFOA, despite being advertised as being free from these toxic chemicals. 

According to the class action lawsuit, HexClad's "false and misleading representations and omissions" are material and would likely deceive reasonable consumers.

Unsurprisingly, HexClad has not admitted any wrongdoing but has agreed to pay $2.5 million to resolve the allegations. 

The class action lawsuit settlement will pay cash to consumers who purchased one or more eligible HexClad products between Feb. 1, 2022, and March 31, 2024.

If you purchased a HexClad cookware product during this period, visit the official claim form online to join the class action lawsuit settlement. Consumers who want to be eligible to receive a cash payment must do so by November 15, 2025.

Proof of purchase is not required for consumers who submit a claim for one or two products, but consumers submitting a claim for 3 or more products must provide a receipt or proof of purchase.

The deadline for exclusions and objections is August 5, 2025.

The final approval hearing for HexClad is September 15, 2025.

Find Out if You are Entitled to Settlement Money From Apple Class Action Lawsuit Involving Siri 'Recording Without Consent'

Per U.S. District Court case Lopez v. Apple Inc., if you owned or purchased a Siri enabled device and experienced an unintended Siri activation during a confidential or private communication between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024, you should read this notice as it may impact your legal rights.

Class Action Lawsuit against Apple Inc. related to Siri

Have you ever noticed a smart device activate without you saying the wake word?

It happens. One person filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. after discovering that Siri recorded their private conversations without consent.

Apple Agrees to Pay Settlement in U.S. District Court Case

Here's what happened:

Apple agreed to pay out a class action settlement on Dec. 31, 2024, due to a lawsuit filed by California resident Funiko Lopez, who claimed in the lawsuit that "Siri conducted unlawful and intentional interception and recording of individuals' confidential communications with their consent and subsequent unauthorized disclosure of those communications."

The court case Lopez v. Apple Inc. states:

"Apple intentionally, willfully, and knowingly violated consumers' privacy rights, including within the sanctity of consumers' own homes where they have the greatest expectation of privacy...Plaintiffs and Class Members would not have bought their Siri Devices or would have paid less for them, if they had known Apple was intercepting, recording, disclosing, and otherwise misusing their conversations without consent or authorization."

Apple agreed to the settlement on Dec. 31, 2024, but "denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that [they] did anything improper or unlawful."

Who is Eligible to File a Claim in the Class Action Lawsuit?

Anyone in the U.S. who owned or purchased an Apple device between September 17, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and enabled Siri during that time period is eligible to file a claim before July 2, 2025.

You would receive a notice in the mail or by email with a Claimant ID Code and Confirmation Code. You would take this information from your notice and go to this page online to submit your information.

Below is a screenshot of the Submit Claim page.

Lopez v. Apple Inc. Submit Claim page

Additional Details from Lopez v. Apple Inc. Class Action Lawsuit

The official website of the class action lawsuit states:

• A settlement has been reached with Apple Inc. (“Apple”) in a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of current or former owners or purchasers of a Siri-enabled iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook, iMac, HomePod, iPod touch, or Apple TV (“Siri Device/Devices”) whose confidential or private communications were allegedly obtained by Apple and/or shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation.  Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit and denies that Apple did anything improper or unlawful.
• The Settlement provides for a $95 million fund for payments to Settlement Class Members who are individual current or former owners or purchasers of a Siri Device, who reside in the United States or its territories, and whose confidential communications were obtained by Apple and/or were shared with third parties as a result of an unintended Siri activation.  The Settlement Class excludes Apple; any entity in which Apple has a controlling interest; Apple’s directors, officers, and employees; Apple’s legal representatives, successors, and assigns.  Also excluded from the Settlement Class are all judicial officers assigned to this case as well as their staff and immediate families.  The Class Period is September 17, 2014 to December 31, 2024. 
• If you believe you are a Settlement Class Member, you must submit a valid Claim Form to get a payment from the Settlement. Settlement Class Members may submit claims for up to five Siri Devices on which they claim to have experienced an unintended Siri activation during a conversation intended to be confidential or private.  Settlement Class Members who submit valid claims shall receive a pro rata portion of the Net Settlement Amount for a Class Payment of up to a cap of $20 per Siri Device. The amount available to Settlement Class Members will increase or decrease pro rata depending on the total number of valid claims submitted, and Siri Devices claimed.   Depending on the total number of valid claims, this Plan of Allocation is subject to modification by agreement of the Parties without further notice to Settlement Class Members, provided any such modification is approved by the Court. The final amount will not be known until all claims are evaluated.  Please see the information in the Notice concerning payments.
• If you received an email or postcard with a Claim Identification Code and a Confirmation Code notifying you about the Settlement, use these codes when making a claim.   If you did not receive an email or postcard about the Settlement and don’t have these codes but believe you are a member of the Settlement Class, you may still make a claim by going to the Submit a Claim page to make a claim and following the instruction on how to submit a Claim Form.
• You can also opt out of or object to the Settlement.

Vanderbilt Football Quarterback Diego Pavia Filed a Lawsuit Against the NCAA in Federal Court for Player Eligibility

Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia isn't happy that he has limited eligibility to play at a Division I school due to NCAA bylaws restricting junior college players. He argues that he should have two more years of eligibility in his lawsuit.

Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia speaking to Paul Finebaum

Diego Pavia Filed a Lawsuit in Federal Court Against the NCAA bylaws

According to ESPN, Diego Pavia "filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville, requesting an injunction that would prevent the NCAA from enforcing its bylaws regarding junior college player limits and grant Pavia two more seasons of eligibility."

In the lawsuit, it argues "the rules stifle the competition in the labor market for NCAA Division I football players, harming college athletes and degrading the quality of Division I football consumed by the public."

The lawsuit states: "Because Pavia cannot relive his short college career, the harm inflicted by the JUCO Eligibility Limitations Bylaws is irreparable and ongoing, and temporary and preliminary injunctive relief is necessary." Pavia wants to "put a stop to the unjustified anticompetitive restriction on universities who seek to compete for college athletes, and to restore freedom of economic opportunity for himself and other college football players."

The NCAA's stated mission is "to promote the well-being of college athletes" and Pavia's lawsuit argues that the "harms [caused] are contrary to the Defendant's stated mission of promoting the well-being of college athletes" that are former Junior College (JUCO) football players "who are harmed by this illegal restraint, and have a small window of time to compete in Division I football." (Source: ESPN)

Junior College Transfers Face 'Unfair' Eligibility Restrictions at Division I Schools

Currently, junior college transfers face eligibility restrictions "that are not placed on athletes who choose to delay entry to a Division I NCAA college to attend prep school, compete professionally in another sport, or serve in the military." This is what happened to Diego Pavia, and his lawsuit fights for himself and other football players in his situation.

The NCAA bylaws start the player's eligibility clock at the time they enter a two-year school (i.e. a junior college) - even if he or she does not play, including those that redshirt and the four-year eligibility limit.

Diego Pavia Transferred from a Junior College to a Division I School

Diego Pavia played two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute, which is a two-year junior college before he transferred to New Mexico State. There he played from 2022-2023, and enrolled in Vanderbilt in June with only one year of Division I eligibility left to play college football, according to NCAA bylaws.

Vanderbilt has beat Alabama and Auburn in this year's college football season and helped revive Vanderbilt's football program.

Questions for the reader: 

Do you think the NCAA should change its bylaws regarding JUCO football players' eligibility at Division I football schools?

Do you think Diego Pavia should be allowed to play at Vanderbilt for two more years?

Eligible Walmart Customers Can Claim Up to $500 in a $45 Million Class Action Lawsuit: The Deadline is June 5

Walmart customers who purchased citrus fruit or weighed items from Walmart, Walmart Neighborhood, or Walmart Supercenter in the U.S. or Puerto Rico between October 19, 2018, and January 19. 2024 may be eligible to receive up to $500 cash in a $45 million settlement.

Walmart

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What is the Walmart Class Action Lawsuit About?

Plaintiff Vassilios Kukorinis brought an amended class action complaint against Walmart, Inc. in the U.S. District Court, Tampa Division on behalf of all others similarly situated.

It is Case № 8:22-cv-02402-VMC-TGW, filed: on 20 July 2023.

The class action lawsuit states that Walmart uses “unfair and deceptive business practices to pilfer its customers' hard-earned grocery dollars by charging customers more than the product’s lowest advertised per pound/ounce price.”

Kukorinis lawsuit alleges that Walmart is not charging customers the lowest advertised price found on a Rollback sticker or price sticker and that Walmart’s Point of Sale (POS) system “deceptively, systematically and artificially increases the weight of the product at checkout resulting in the customer paying an “inflated price” that is not the same as the price advertised.

The lawsuit does not just apply to customers who purchased citrus, but also other weighed goods, including meat, poultry, and seafood products.

Photo by Marques Thomas on Unsplash

Who is Eligible to Join the Walmart Class Action Lawsuit?

CNBC reported the following eligibility requirements and the tiers of how much money you could be eligible for:

“You may be eligible if you purchased weighted goods and/or bagged citrus in person from Walmart, Walmart Supercenter, or Walmart Neighborhood Market in the U.S. or Puerto Rico between Oct. 19, 2018, and Jan. 19, 2024, according to the settlement’s website.

The amount you receive will depend on how much you spend on those items at a Walmart store during that time period. Here are the potential payouts, per the settlement website.

• $10: If you’re approved and don’t have receipts, proof of purchase, or other documentation but attest to Purchasing up to 50 Weighted Goods and/or Bagged Citrus
• $15: If you’re approved and don’t have receipts, proof of purchase, or other documentation but attest to Purchasing 51 up to 75 Weighted Goods and/or Bagged Citrus in person
• $20: If you’re approved and don’t have receipts, proof of purchase, or other documentation but attest to Purchasing 76 up to 100 Weighted Goods and/or Bagged Citrus in person
• $25: If you’re approved and don’t have receipts, proof of purchase, or other documentation but attest to Purchasing 101 or more Weighted Goods and/or Bagged Citrus
• Up to $500: If you’re approved and have receipts, proof of purchase, or other documentation that substantiates (a) each Weighted Good and/or Bagged Citrus Purchased in person in a Walmart Store during the Settlement Class Period, and (b) the amount paid for each Weighted Good and/or Bagged Citrus Purchased, then that Approved Claimant will be entitled to receive 2% of the total cost of the substantiated Weighted Goods and Bagged Citrus Purchased, capped at five hundred dollars ($500)”

(Source: CNBC)

How Can a Person Join the Walmart Class Action Settlement?

If you are eligible to join this class action lawsuit, you can join at the following website.

The website is a “NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT.”

Screenshot from Kukorinis v. Walmart Inc. settlement website

The following grid on the website shows your legal rights and options in this matter.

credit: Kukorinis v. Walmart Inc. settlement website

Have You Shopped for Weighed Items at Walmart?

Have you purchased citrus fruits or weighted items at Walmart between Oct. 19, 2018, and Jan. 19, 2024?

Does knowing this information change how much you will shop at Walmart in the future?

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Sources

Amended Class Action Lawsuit: Vassilios Kukorinis v. Walmart, Inc. Case №8:22-cv-02402-VMC-TGW. Document filed: 20 July 2023.

DeVon, Cheyenne. “You could claim up to $500 from Walmart as a part of a $45 million class action lawsuit — here’s how to check.” CNBC. 19 April 2024.

Kukorinis v. Walmart, Inc. Class Action Settlement website.

Verizon Wireless Will Be Paying US Customers in a Class Action Lawsuit for Those who Submit a Claim by April 15

Verizon Wireless has notified customers who are eligible for a class action lawsuit for those charged administrative fees between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023. Find out if you are eligible to receive money from Verizon Wireless.

Verizon sign; credit: WSB-TV 2 News

Who is Eligible for a Verizon Wireless Payment?

If you were a Verizon Wireless customer between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023, and had a postpaid wireless phone or data plan in the US, there is a good chance that you are eligible to join a class action lawsuit.

Verizon customers signed up for services paid on a monthly billing cycle who were charged administrative fees between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023, are the people who were affected.

Verizon has been contacting eligible members by email or regular mail — which was sent out Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

The email or letter contains a notice ID and confirmation code, which is used to submit a claim by registering on the settlement website. The deadline to submit a claim and join this class action lawsuit is April 15, 2024.

A screenshot of the website where you enter this information is seen below.

Submit a Claim website

How Much Should Each Customer Expect to Receive?

WSB-TV 2 News reported that “each customer should expect to see a payment of at least $15, but payments could be as high as $100.” The amount of the payout depends on how many eligible people sign up to receive their portion as members of this class action lawsuit.

Those eligible will receive payment via check or electronic payment.

Sources

Verizon Class Action lawsuit website to Submit a Claim: “Esposito et al. v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless.”

Lord, Debbie. “Verizon could owe you up to $100 in settlement money. Here is how you can file a claim.” WSB-TV 2 News. 5 January 2024.

Florida Woman Files a Lawsuit Against Company that Owns Brooksville Chick-fil-A Over "Black Chicken Nugget Meat"

A Florida woman claims she got "violently ill" after eating "black chicken nugget meat" from a Brooksville Chick-fil-A. She has filed a lawsuit against Holland Hospitality, LLC, claiming that the incident caused her "great pain and suffering for some time."

Chick-fil-A employee smiling

A Florida woman has now filed a lawsuit against the company that owns the Chick-fil-A in Brooksville, Florida after she ate chicken nuggets that she claims made her "violently ill" because the food "was not fit for consumption."

Florida Woman Files Lawsuit Against Holland Hospitality, LLC

News Channel 8 reported that Shi'Terra Sharp from Orlando, Florida was eating chicken nuggets from the Chick-fil-A in Brooksville, Florida when she noticed her chicken nugget meat was "black in color."

She was was the location at 13143 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville in January of 2020 when the incident took place.

Sharp alleges that Holland Hospitality, LLC "breached its duty by negligently failing to adequately inspect and ensure its food was fit for human consumption before selling it."

Law & Crime reported that "her lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 for 'bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing home treatment. These losses are either permanent or continuing in nature, and the plaintiff will suffer said losses in the future, to wit, permanently.'"

What do you think about this lawsuit against Holland Hospitality, LLC, which owns Chick-fil-A in Brooksville?

Sources

Accettulla, Kevin. "Woman sues Brooksville Chick-fil-A location over ‘black’ chicken nugget meat." News Channel 8. Last Updated: 24 October 2023.

Kandel, Jason. "Woman sues Chick-fil-A over ‘black’ chicken nugget she claims made her violently ill with gastrointestinal illnesses." Law & Crime. 24 October 2023.

Wisconsin City is Suing Burger King for $500K Over an Abandoned Building That 'Could Attract Crime'

The city of West Allis is suing Burger King because Burger King has not fixed their former building which is located at 76th Street and Greenfield Avenue. This building has been abandoned since 2018. The city is calling the building a public nuisance and a fire hazard, that could attract vandalism and crime.

Burger King; by Ismail Hadine on Unsplash

The City of West Allis: 'Fix, Demolish, or Redevelop' Abandoned Building

The city of West Allis says that it has given Burger King multiple notices and opportunities to fix the abandoned building located at 76th Street and Greenfield Avenue, but the company has not complied. Now they are suing Burger King for $500,000 in damages and fines.

The city says that it wants to see the property redeveloped or demolished, and that it is willing to work with Burger King to find a solution. The city also says that it is enforcing its blight ordinance, which allows it to sue property owners who neglect their buildings.

The city of West Allis does not want the abandoned building to attract vandalism and crime.

*The City of West Allis, Wisconsin is a suburb of Milwaukee and had a population of 60,325 at the 2020 Census.

Burger King Responds to the 'Unfair and Excessive' Lawsuit

Burger King responded that it has been trying to sell the property since 2019, but has not found a buyer. The company also says that it has been paying the property taxes and maintaining the security system. Burger King argues that the city’s lawsuit is unfair and excessive.

The YouTube video of this story can be seen below.

Source:

FOX6 News Milwaukee on YouTube

Johnson & Johnson Aveeno Neutrogena Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Awards $1.75 Million

 

Aveeno Neutrogena aerosol sunscreen spray

Large consumer brand Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay out $1.75 million in vouchers as a result of a class action settlement from claims that Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreen spray products were contaminated with a cancer ingredient (Benzene), known as carcinogens.

If you purchased certain Aveeno or Neutrogena sunscreen products between May 26, 2015 and April 8, 2022, you are entitled to participate in this class action settlement lawsuit.

Neutrogena Beach Defense Aerosol spray (pictured without oxybenzone)

Johnson & Johnson Aveeno Neutrogena Aerosol Spray Containing Benzene

The products containing Benzene were:

• Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection Sensitive Skin Sunscreen Lotion
• Aveeno Protect + Refresh Aerosol Sunscreen
• Neutrogena Beach Defense Aerosol Sunscreen
• Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Aerosol Sunscreen
• Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Aerosol Sunscreen
• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Water Resistant Sunscreen Lotion
• Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Dry-Touch Face Sunscreen Lotion

If you used these Johnson & Johnson Aveeno Neutrogena aerosol sunscreen spray products between May 26, 2015, and April 8, 2022, you are eligible to participate in this class action settlement lawsuit. If you have these products in your home that were purchased between these dates, stop using them immediately! They have been found to contain Benzene carcinogens that cause cancer.

Johnson & Johnson Aveeno Neutrogena Voluntary Product Recall in July 2021

In July 2021, Johnson & Johnson issued a recall of aerosol sunscreen spray products of the brands listed above after third-party testing found that the cancer ingredient, Benzene was present. Johnson & Johnson admitted on their website that these products may not be safe for use. Benzene is known to cause leukemia and lymphoma, which are blood-related cancers. 

Consumers that used these products understood that they were put at risk of getting these blood cancers by Johnson & Johnson's products marketed under the brands, Aveeno and Neutrogena. Consumers took legal action against the company, as they rightfully believed that it was dangerous for Johnson & Johnson to sell contaminated aerosol spray sunscreen products.

If you want to participate in this settlement and receive benefits, you must submit a valid claim form by the deadline: July 7, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for this settlement is currently scheduled for: August 12, 2022.

The website to file a claim is: SunProductSettlement.com

Johnson & Johnson Public Recall Statement

On July 14, 2021, Johnson & Johnson released a statement regarding benzene found in Aveeno and Neutrogena aerosol spray sunscreens.

According to their own admission on their website:

"Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, a substance that could potentially cause cancer depending on the level and extent of exposure. Benzene is ubiquitous in the environment. Humans around the world have daily exposure indoors and outdoors from multiple sources. Benzene can be absorbed, to varying degrees by inhalation, through the skin, and orally. Based on exposure modeling and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) framework, daily exposure to benzene in these aerosol sunscreen products at the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling all lots of these specific aerosol sunscreen products."

The intelligent consumer may read this and ask: Did Johnson & Johnson test and market these products with the knowledge that benzene was present?

Have you used these products?

If you have used or have been in contact with a person that used these aerosol spray sunscreen products and have experienced an adverse reaction, you are encouraged to report your event to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at this website:

www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm

Click the red button that says, "Report a Problem."

FDA Reporting website

Is Lawsuit Settlement Income Taxable?

Is Lawsuit Settlement Income taxable?

The IRS considers lawsuit settlement income taxable.Taxable? Personal injury settlements are the exception to this. If you specifically receive a personal injury settlement, then the money is not taxable.

Sources:

Johnson & Johson website. "Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall of Specific Neutrogena and Aveeno Aerosol Sunscreen Products Due to the Presence of Benzene." 14 July 2021.

$92 Million TikTok Settlement Payment and Class Action Lawsuit

 

TikTok Settlement Payment

$92 Million TikTok Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

TikTok is facing the clock after an Illinois federal judge approved a $92 Million USD settlement for its users that filed class-action lawsuits. Anyone that filed to join this class action lawsuit before the deadline will receive a TikTok settlement payment.

TikTok Case over Unlawful Collection of Users' Biometric Data

The settlement case information:

In re: TikTok Inc. Consumer Privacy Litigation, Case No. 1:20-cv-04699, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The Illinois federal judge believes that the proposed $92 million USD settlement payment sufficiently resolves the accusations that TikTok was collecting biometric data unlawfully. 

What will people get who filed claims against TikTok?

TikTok users that filed a claim in this $92 Million USD class action settlement will get an equal share in the settlement cash after administrative fees and costs have been taken out.

Who can file a claim, and when is the deadline and hearing date for the TikTok settlement?

People that qualify are considered "class members" and this includes TikTok users who are residents in the United States that used the TikTok app before September 20, 2021. Any class member that is also an Illinois resident may qualify for an increased amount of settlement payment, by as much as six times the amount of someone that is not an Illinois resident.

The deadline for the settlement payment is March 1, 2022. The final approval for this TikTok settlement payment will take place during the hearing currently scheduled on May 18, 2022.

How will I receive my TikTok cash settlement payment?

If you successfully submitted a claim form by the March 1, 2022 deadline, then you should expect to receive your cash payment via PayPal, Venom, a virtual prepaid card, or by a physical check in the mail. Your preferred payment method was provided on the settlement application.

What was the legal issue with TikTok privacy policies?

The litigation against TikTok involved their privacy policies. The claims were that TikTok unlawfully collected users' biometric and personal data in 2021. 

TikTok asserts that users waived their rights in the agreed-upon terms of service, or privacy policies, and have therefore done nothing wrong.

TikTok Privacy Policy Changed

TikTok agreed to stop collecting users' biometric data, geolocation, and GPS data with their app and storing this data outside the U.S. after the $92 million USD settlement payment from the class action lawsuit. TikTok revised its privacy policies.

TikTok was accused of sharing users' biometric data with the Chinese government, while TikTok denied this was taking place.

The class-action lawsuit is against TikTok and its predecessor app, Musical.ly.

Why Did I Receive B Settlement Payment from Bumble?

 

Bumble B Settlement Payment

What is the B Settlement PayPal or Venmo Payment?

On March 4, 2021 many people received a mysterious B Settlement payment into their PayPal or Venmo account for $36.89 if you opted into the Bumble Boost settlement class-action lawsuit, which required you to give your contact information, including a method for electronic payment or to receive a paper check in the mail. If you received this payment, it is because you signed up for the class action settlement at some point, and it means that you used the Bumble app at some point in the past.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael M. Cousins gave Bumble and subscriber plaintiffs preliminary approval for a proposed class action settlement worth $22.5 million. Judge Cousins determined that, upon preliminary examination of the settlement terms, the deal appears "fair, reasonable, and adequate," agreeing with the plaintiffs' assertion that the recovery is an "excellent" outcome. (Source: TopClassActions.com)

As a result, PayPal or Venmo would have notified you around March 4, 2021 that you received payment from "B Settlement."

Notification from Paypal for B Settlement

Why did Bumble have a Class-Action Lawsuit against them?

It all has to do with the Bumble Boost subscription.

The class-action lawsuit alleges that Bumble's Terms & Conditions failed to notify subscribers of the legal right to cancel their Bumble Boost subscription and obtain a refund within three (3) business days of purchase in violation of certain consumer protection laws, that may apply to all of Bumble's Boost users nationwide. The case also alleges that for certain users in California, Bumble's auto-renewal practices violate California law. Bumble vigorously denies these allegations and does not admit fault.

There are two Settlement Agreement groups of people that are included in this Bumble class-action lawsuit:

1) The (New York) Nationwide Class includes all persons in the United States who purchased Bumble Boost at any time between November 13, 2014 and July 15, 2020. This is referred to as the "DSL Settlement Class" in the Settlement Agreement. Note: Anybody that qualified and signed up for just this B settlement agreement would have received $36.89 payment to their PayPal or Venmo account around March 4, 2021.

2) The California Class includes all persons who purchased Bumble Boost, within California, at any time between November 13, 2014 and July 15, 2020, and had their credit card, debit card, and/or a third-party payment account charged as part of Bumble's automatic renewal program or continuous service program. This is referred to as the "ARL Settlement Class" in the B Settlement Agreement. California class members would each have received a payment amount between $43 and $85.

If you are in both the Nationwide Class as well as the California Class, you will receive payments from both classes if you have made a valid claim. 

The deadline to file a claim was November 23, 2020.

What does the Bumble Boost Class Action Settlement Agreement Provide?

The Bumble Boost Subscription class-action settlements established a $22.5 million USD fund, which will be used to pay Settlement Class Members (described above) after deductions for amounts that the Court may approve for notice and administration of the Settlement attorney's fees and expenses and service awards for the Class Representatives.

Below is a chart of your legal rights in the Bumble Boost Class-Action Lawsuit:

Your Legal Rights to Submit a Claim against Bumble

Lawsuit Claims Fortnite was Designed to be Addictive

Fortnite game case

Canadian Parents file Lawsuit against Epic Games

A lawsuit filed in Canada accuses Epic Games of making Fortnite too addictive. The lawsuit - filed by disgruntled parents - complains that players (including their children) had have to seek treatment for their Fortnite addiction. The lawyer, Jean-Philippe Caron, filed the lawsuit in the Quebec Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. The lawsuit goes on to say that Fortnite is so addictive that players have to seek treatment for their addiction, after player for hours without eating or showering. They state that the game's developer's even employed psychologists to make the game addictive.
The Yahoo! article can be read here.

Was the Fortnite video game created to be addictive?

Video games that offer rewards for playing can be addictive because they appeal to the brain's pleasure circuits in the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex, and were significantly stronger in men.

This was confirmed by David J Linden, Ph.D. in Psychology Today. 

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) filed Copyright Infringement Lawsuit against Fortnite in 2018

In 2018, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in January 2018 against Epic Games because Fortnite's Battle Royale was "too similar" - this was reported in TheKoreaTimes. Both games use the Unreal Engine 4, but PUBG graphics are intended to be more realistic, while Fortnite graphics are cartoonish in nature.

Bloomberg reported that PUBG dropped its copyright infringement lawsuit against Fortnite.