Costco Email Lawsuit Payout: How to Claim Your Share of the $28 Million Settlement Before the Deadline

Costco email lawsuit payout: What Washington shoppers need to know about the $14 million settlement Costco has agreed to create a $14 million cash fund to resolve claims that its marketing emails misled consumers, allegedly violating Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act and Consumer Protection Act. Court papers say subject lines such as “Today is the last day to access Member-Only Savings” created a false sense of urgency, even though the promotions continued past the stated deadline. Who is eligible • Residency: You must have been a Washington state resident when you received the messages. • Time frame: Any commercial email sent by Costco between 2 June 2021 and 7 July 2026 counts. • Membership: You do not have to be a Costco member; your email simply needs to appear in Costco’s marketing database. How much you could receive Eligible claimants can request up to $500 for each qualifying email, although the final payment will depend on the number of valid claims filed. The $14 million fund will be distributed pro-rata after deducting attorneys’ fees, costs and any service award to the lead plaintiff. Key deadlines • Claim-form deadline: 24 August 2026. • Opt-out/objection deadline and final approval hearing dates will be listed on the official settlement site once the court issues preliminary approval. How to file 1. Visit the settlement administrator’s portal (link provided in official notices or on Costco’s website). 2. Enter the email address that received Costco promotions. 3. Certify Washington residency during the claim period and submit before the deadline. No receipts are required; the administrator will cross-check Costco’s email lists. Why Costco settled Costco denies wrongdoing but says the agreement avoids the expense and uncertainty of a trial. Similar email-marketing suits have targeted major retailers in recent years, making compliance with state anti-spam laws an increasingly costly risk. Bottom line If you lived in Washington and got promotional emails from Costco during the past five years, submit your claim before 24 August 2026 to secure a share of the Costco email lawsuit payout—potentially up to $500 per message.