Class Action Lawsuits in 2026
Last updated: October 17, 2026
A class action is one lawsuit brought for a large group of people who were treated the same way by the same company. A few named plaintiffs stand in for everyone else. This page covers the 2026 cases people are asking about, how to tell whether a settlement notice applies to you, and how class actions work.
New to lawsuits? Start here for a simple step-by-step overview.
This page provides general educational information about class action lawsuits and does not constitute legal advice.
If you were hurt by a drug, a medical device, a product, or a chemical exposure, your case is usually an individual mass tort claim, not a class action. A free case review covers those claims. Pick the one closest to your situation:
Free and no obligation. Whether a claim can be filed depends on your own facts and your state's deadline. Class action settlement claims are filed on the settlement's own website, not through a case review.
- Class action lawsuits in 2026
- How to tell if you can file a claim
- What a class action is
- How class actions usually work
- Why class actions are used
- Common types of class action cases
- How class actions differ from mass torts
- What happens if a class is certified
- Whether class actions usually settle
- What class members may receive
- Why class actions can be complicated
- Common questions people ask
- Frequently asked questions
Class Action Lawsuits in 2026: Cases People Are Asking About
These are the class actions and settlements that drew the most questions in 2026. Each entry says what the case is about, who is covered, and whether there is anything to file right now. Details are current as of October 17, 2026.
CVS digital privacy settlement: $20.5 million, claims due November 16
CVS and the advertising company Criteo agreed to pay up to $20.5 million. The settlement resolves claims that the CVS website and app sent visitor data to outside companies without permission. The case is Brewer v. CVS Pharmacy, filed in a Florida state court. Anyone in the United States who used CVS.com, CVSHealth.com, or the CVS app before July 27, 2026 is in the class.
Claims are due November 16, 2026. A claim with proof, such as a dated screenshot or a purchase email, can pay up to $10. A claim without proof can pay up to $5. Payments shrink if many people file. The court's final approval hearing is December 1, 2026. Claims are filed on the settlement website, CVSDigitalPrivacySettlement.com.
Credit Acceptance: $694 million, but not a class action
Many people search for a Credit Acceptance class action. The 2026 deal is a settlement with 41 state attorneys general, announced September 17, 2026. Credit Acceptance agreed to $694 million in debt relief and cash for people who took out car loans the states say the company knew they could not afford.
There is no claim form in the announcement. Credit Acceptance must tell eligible borrowers directly, and a settlement administrator will handle payments. The relief covers certain high-risk loans made between November 1, 2015 and November 30, 2025. Debt relief is due by November 2, 2026. New York is settling separately. If you had a Credit Acceptance loan, watch your mail and keep your address current so the notice reaches you.
Starbucks: a new case, no settlement yet
A proposed class action filed January 13, 2026 in federal court in Seattle says the Starbucks label "Committed to 100% Ethical Coffee Sourcing" is misleading. It also says lab tests found methylene chloride, benzene, and toluene in a decaf house blend. The case is at an early stage. No class has been certified, no money has been set aside, and there is no claim form. Anyone offering to file a Starbucks claim for you now is not working from a real settlement.
CeraVe: benzene claims against L'Oréal
Several proposed class actions target CeraVe acne products made with benzoyl peroxide. They follow a March 2024 report by the testing lab Valisure that found benzene in CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser at 5 to 12 parts per million. The complaint says the FDA treats more than 2 parts per million as grounds for a recall. The first case, Grossenbacher v. L'Oréal USA, was filed in Louisiana on March 15, 2024. These cases are still pending, with no settlement to claim from.
State Farm: state-by-state settlements over totaled cars
State Farm has settled a series of class actions over how it valued totaled cars and what it paid on those claims. Each settlement covers only policyholders in one state during set dates, so the Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Washington deals each have their own class and deadline. If you receive a State Farm notice, the settlement website named in it lists who qualifies and when claims are due.
DoorDash: the New York tips settlement is closed
DoorDash paid $16.75 million to settle a New York Attorney General case over tips. From May 2017 to September 2019, DoorDash used part of customers' tips to cover the pay it had guaranteed its drivers. New York drivers from that period could file claims through February 13, 2026. That deadline has passed. This was a government settlement, not a class action, so there is no class to join now.
Cases covered on Lawsuit Informer
- House v. NCAA settlement: the class action settlement that pays past and current college athletes, with claim status and what comes next.
- Facebook settlements: the $725 million privacy settlement, the Illinois biometric settlement, and where payments stand.
- Kraft Heinz lawsuits and Coca-Cola lawsuits: the ultra processed food cases, the San Francisco suits, and the labeling class actions against each company.
- Ultra processed food lawsuit: the Martinez case was dismissed in June 2026. This page tracks the claims that remain.
How to Tell If You Can File a Claim in a Class Action Settlement
A settlement notice can look like junk mail or a pop-up ad. Six checks tell you whether it applies to you and what to do next.
- Start with the notice. It names the case, the court, and the settlement website. Those three details let you confirm the settlement is real.
- Read the class definition. It says who is covered, usually by product, dates, and state. If you fit the description, you are a class member.
- Find both deadlines. Every settlement has a claim deadline and an opt-out deadline. Missing the claim deadline usually means no payment.
- See what proof is needed. Many settlements pay a small amount with no proof and more with a receipt, an account record, or a screenshot.
- Expect to wait. Payments go out after the court grants final approval and any appeals end. That is often months after the claim deadline.
- Never pay to file. Claim forms are free. The settlement administrator does not ask for a fee or your bank login.
If you cannot find an official settlement website, search the case name together with the court name. The notice is the record that counts, not a social media post about it.
What Is a Class Action?
A class action is a legal procedure that allows a smaller number of named plaintiffs to represent a larger group, often called the class. Instead of every affected person filing a separate lawsuit, the case may proceed on behalf of the group if certain legal requirements are met.
How Class Actions Usually Work
In a class action, the court must usually decide whether the case can be certified as a class. The court looks at two things. It asks whether the group shares the same legal or factual issues, and whether the named plaintiffs can fairly represent everyone in the class. If certification is denied, the case may continue in a different form or not proceed as a class action.
Why Class Actions Are Used
Class actions are often used when many people experienced similar alleged harm, but each individual claim may be too small to justify separate litigation. This structure can make it more practical to litigate issues that affect a large number of people at once.
Common Types of Class Action Cases
- Consumer protection claims
- False advertising allegations
- Privacy and data breach cases
- Employment and wage disputes
- Financial or fee-related claims
- Certain defective product or service claims
How Class Actions Differ From Mass Torts
Class actions and mass torts are different. In a class action, the claims are pursued on behalf of a group through representative plaintiffs, and the outcome may affect many class members together. In a mass tort, individuals usually maintain separate claims even if cases are coordinated for efficiency. Mass torts are often more common when injuries, exposure histories, or damages vary significantly from person to person.
Readers comparing these structures often also review Mass Torts, MDL Basics, and Bellwether Trials. One guide covers the full distinction, including why an MDL is not a class action: How Mass Tort Cases Are Structured and Resolved.
An injury from a drug, a device, or a product is usually a mass tort claim. Those cases are filed one person at a time. Whether yours can be filed depends on your diagnosis, the product, and your state's deadline.
Get a Free Case ReviewWhat Happens if a Class Is Certified?
If a court certifies a class, notice may be sent to class members explaining the case and their rights. Depending on the type of class action, people may be included automatically unless they opt out, or they may need to take specific action to participate. The case may then move through litigation, settlement discussions, or trial on a class-wide basis.
Do Class Actions Usually Settle?
Many class actions resolve through settlement, but settlement still usually requires court review and approval. Courts often examine whether a proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate for the class. Settlement notices and claim procedures may also become part of the process.
What Can Class Members Receive?
The outcome of a class action depends on the nature of the claims and the relief sought. Some cases seek refunds, statutory damages, reimbursement, injunctive relief, changes in business practices, or other remedies. The form and amount of recovery can vary widely from one case to another.
Why Class Actions Can Be Complicated
Class actions can involve significant procedural disputes, especially around certification, notice, settlement approval, and the scope of the proposed class. Even when many people were affected by the same general conduct, courts still analyze whether the claims are sufficiently similar to proceed together.
Common Questions People Ask
- Which class action lawsuits are open in 2026?
- How do I file a claim in a class action settlement?
- What is the difference between a class action and a mass tort?
- Do I automatically become part of a class action?
- What does class certification mean?
- Can class action members opt out?
- How are settlements approved in class actions?
- What kinds of compensation can class members receive?
Frequently Asked Questions About Class Actions
What is a class action lawsuit?
A class action lawsuit is one case brought by a few named plaintiffs for a larger group of people with the same legal issue. If the court certifies the class, the case proceeds for the whole group.
How is a class action different from a mass tort?
In a class action, representative plaintiffs pursue claims on behalf of a group, and the outcome may affect class members together. In a mass tort, many plaintiffs may have similar claims, but their individual injuries, exposure histories, and damages are often evaluated separately.
What does class certification mean?
Class certification means the court has decided that the case may proceed as a class action. The court usually considers whether the proposed class shares common legal or factual issues and whether the representative plaintiffs can fairly represent the group.
Do I automatically become part of a class action?
It depends on the type of class action and the notice process. In some cases, class members may be included unless they opt out. In others, people may need to submit a claim form or take another step to receive settlement benefits.
Can class members opt out of a class action?
In many damages class actions, class members may have the right to opt out if they do not want to be bound by the result. The notice should explain any opt-out rights, deadlines, and procedures.
Do class actions usually settle?
Many class actions resolve through settlement, but a proposed class settlement usually requires court review and approval. Courts often evaluate whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate for the class.
What can class members receive in a class action?
Class members may receive different forms of relief depending on the case, including refunds, payments, reimbursement, statutory damages, injunctive relief, changes in business practices, or other remedies.
Why can class actions be complicated?
Class actions can be complicated because the court has to rule on several questions before anyone is paid. It decides whether to certify the class, how members are notified, whether the named plaintiffs represent the group well, and whether a settlement is fair.
Which class action lawsuits are open in 2026?
As of October 2026, the CVS digital privacy settlement is open for claims until November 16, 2026. The Credit Acceptance settlement is a deal with state attorneys general and has no claim form. The Starbucks and CeraVe cases are pending with no settlement yet. The DoorDash New York tips settlement closed to claims on February 13, 2026.
How do I file a claim in a class action settlement?
Read the notice, confirm you fit the class definition, and file on the settlement website before the claim deadline. Some settlements pay a small amount with no proof and more with a receipt or screenshot. Filing is free. Payment usually arrives months after the court grants final approval.
Is the Credit Acceptance settlement a class action?
No. The $694 million Credit Acceptance settlement announced September 17, 2026 is an agreement with 41 state attorneys general. Eligible borrowers are supposed to be contacted directly, and a settlement administrator handles payments. There is no class action claim form.
Not Sure Which Kind of Case You Have?
A class action settlement is claimed on its own website, with no lawyer needed. An injury from a drug, a device, a product, or a chemical is different. Those claims are filed one person at a time. A free case review can tell you whether yours can be filed and whether your state's deadline still allows it.
Free and no obligation. Whether a claim exists depends on your own facts. Lawsuit Center does not handle class action settlement claims.
Still learning how lawsuits work? Start here for a simple step-by-step overview.
Related Legal Guides
- New to Lawsuits? Start Here
- How Lawsuits Work
- How Long Do Lawsuits Take?
- Mass Torts
- MDL Basics
- How Mass Tort Cases Are Structured and Resolved
- Bellwether Trials
- What Is a Settlement?
