Subaru Engine Failure, Plus More Class-Action Settlements for May

The ever-changing legal world keeps on spinning, and new class-action settlement offers churn out daily.

Settlement awards are available for everything from leisure activities, such as playing baseball to electronic gizmos, such as fitness trackers. See what you might qualify to receive.

Subaru Impreza Engine Failure

A pair of class-action lawsuits against car maker Subaru claim that a defect caused the connecting rod and main bearing in the Impreza’s engine to fail sooner that it should have. Some owners said it cost nearly $6,500 for the repair.

You could qualify if you leased or purchased a vehicle that meets the following criteria:

• Model year 2012 through 2017 Subaru Impreza WRX and STi vehicles equipped with an EJ-series 15 2.5-liter turbocharged engine.
• It was manufactured between Oct. 11, 2011, and Nov. 16, 2016.
• It has vehicle identification numbers (VINs) ending with CG203168 and up for 5-door models, and CG006225 through H9826807 for 4-door models.
• It was purchased in the continental United States, including Alaska.

Class members who paid for the engine repairs at an authorized Subaru dealership can file a claim for 100% of their expenses. Those who had the repair completed at an independent auto shop can file a claim for $3,500 to $6,500 depending on the repair.

For more information and complete details, click here and file a claim by May 22.

Amazon Audibles Audiobooks

Amazon has reached a class-action settlement to resolve allegations that some of its customers lost unredeemed paid memberships between March 10, 2013 and Aug. 17, 2018. The company has agreed to provide 12 million free audiobooks credits.

Audible customers receive one “credit” that can be used to redeem an audiobook every month their Audible subscription is renewed.

According to the lawsuit, a customer who previously canceled a membership would be forced to sacrifice the credits they paid for through the membership.

In addition, plaintiffs alleged Amazon charged debit or credit cards for Audible services that were not authorized.

Three different groups are eligible for compensation:

• Audible customers who incurred charges to a card other than the one originally designated as the primary payment card for their membership between March 10, 2013 and Aug. 17, 2018.
• Audible customers who lost unredeemed paid membership credits between March 10, 2013 and Aug. 17, 2018.
• Audible customers who bought or redeemed an Audible gift membership between Aug. 11, 2011 and Aug. 17, 2018, that resulted in credits being lost.

The first group will be offered reimbursement of qualified payment card expenses. All others will be able to receive one free audiobook from an approved list.

The deadline is May 23, 2019. For more details, click here.

Fitbit Sleep Tracker

Did you pay extra for a Fitbit that could track your sleep, but discovered the device fell asleep on the job? A class-action settlement has been reached resolving claims that the Fitbit sleep tracker doesn’t work as advertised.

Fitbit owners allege they slept an average of more than an hour longer than their Fitbits indicated.

If you bought a Fitbit Flex, Fitbit One or Fitbit Ultra online between Sept. 1, 2009 and Oct. 27, 2014, you could receive $12.50.

You must have registered the device online and given your email address to qualify. States and corresponding class periods are:

• California from Sept. 1, 2009 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Florida from Sept. 1, 2009 to Oct. 27, 2014
• New York from March 26, 2012 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Michigan from March 26, 2012 to Oct. 27, 2014
• New Jersey from March 26, 2012 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Pennsylvania from March 26, 2012 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Ohio from March 26, 2012 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Missouri from March 26, 2013 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Illinois from March 26, 2013 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Texas from March 26, 2014 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Georgia from March 26, 2014 to Oct. 27, 2014
• North Carolina from March 26, 2014 to Oct. 27, 2014
• Washington from March 26, 2014 to Oct. 27, 2014

Click here and submit your claim by the May 30, 2019 deadline.

Powerhouse Gym Texts

Did you receive an unsolicited text message from Powerhouse Gym Fort Lauderdale? If so, you could benefit from a recent $600,000 class-action lawsuit settlement over alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

If you received a text message by or on behalf of Powerhouse Gym Fort Lauderdale between June 16, 2017 and March 12, 2019, you could collect up to $30 per message.

File a claim by the June 5, 2019 deadline by clicking here.

California P.F. Chang’s

Were you asked to provide P.F. Chang’s your phone number and email address when you paid with a credit card in California? If so, you could benefit from a $1 million class-action settlement alleging the restaurant violated state privacy laws.

It potentially affects anyone who engaged in a credit card transaction at a California P.F. Chang’s Restaurant between May 3, 2016 and Feb. 22, 2019.

P.F. Chang’s has agreed to pay each affected customer up to $1,000.

For information regarding the proof of purchase and to file a claim, click here by the June 7, 2019 deadline.

Scotts Morning Song Toxic Bird Food

If you bought Scotts Morning Song Bird Food products between Nov. 1, 2005 and May 1, 2008, you could receive a full refund with receipts or up to $100 without proof of purchase from this $85 million class-action settlement.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company reportedly sold bird food tainted with two different pesticides for three years. The EPA and the Department of Justice charged Scotts in 2012 for selling the toxic bird seed and the company paid $12.5 million in fines.

Scotts pleaded guilty to applying the toxic pesticides to all wild bird feed from November 2005 through March 2008.

The potential award can vary based on where you purchased the bird food. To ensure you understand the full terms and conditions, click here to review the potential awards and to submit a claim by the July 1, 2019 deadline.

“Warcraft” Film Advertising Text Messages

Universal Pictures, Legendary Pictures and Handstack have agreed to a $19.2 million class-action settlement involving unsolicited text messages for the movie “Warcraft,” based on the video game of the same name.

The suit claims the movie production companies violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the federal law that bans unwanted text messages and calls.

Consumers who received an unwanted text regarding the release of the movie between May 1, 2016 and April 8, 2019 could receive $35 or $50.

The settlement agreement affects these groups:

• Those who received unwanted “Warcraft” text messages;
• Those who continued to receive unwanted text messages even after indicating that they did not wish to be contacted further;
• Those who were contacted despite being listed on the Do Not Call Registry;
• Those who received “Warcraft” text messages outside of the permissible hours under the TCPA: before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. local time.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members who received unwanted “Warcraft” text messages will receive $35; others will receive $50.

For complete details, click here and submit your claim by the July 10, 2019 deadline.

Professional Placement Services

Did you receive a call directly to your voicemail from Professional Placement Services? If so, you could receive a portion of the $1.7 million settlement available to owners of more than 19,000 phone numbers called between Nov. 18, 2012 and May 30, 2018.

The direct-to-voicemail said something similar to: “This is Professional Placement Services, calling with a message. This call is from a debt collector. Please call us back at 855-777-0312. Again, that number is 855-777-0312.”

These calls went directly to cell phone voicemail messaging systems without the phone ever ringing. A class-action lawsuit alleged the calls violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which protects consumers from spam text messages, phone calls and faxes.

Click here for more information and to file a claim by the July 15, 2019 deadline.

Tinder Age Bias

California Tinder users may benefit from a $17.3 million age bias class-action settlement.

California residents who bought a Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold subscription between March 2, 2015 and March 1, 2019 and were at least 29 at the time could qualify.

A lawsuit alleged Tinder committed age discrimination by providing users under age 29 a 50% discount to subscribe to Tinder Gold or Tinder Plus.

Potential class members should have received a unique ID number from a class notice.

Class members will receive 50 Super Likes. Those who submit a valid claim form by the July 17, 2019, deadline can also choose to receive either $25, 25 additional Super Likes, or a free month of Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold membership.

For more information, swipe right, er, click here.

Utz, Bachman “All Natural” Snacks

Utz, Bachman has agreed to a $1.25 million class-action settlement regarding allegations that its “all natural” snacks contain ingredients that are not completely natural.

The suit alleges the snacks include some GMOs and artificial ingredients.

If you bought Utz and/or Bachman snacks labeled as “all natural” between Dec. 30, 2010 and March 30, 2019, you could receive up to $20 ($2 per item purchased).

For complete details and a claim form, click here by the July 28, 2019 deadline.

Fiat Chrysler EcoDiesel Emissions Cheating

If you owned or leased a 2014-2016 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel or 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee Ecodiesel vehicle, you could receive a portion of a $300 million class-action settlement.

Fiat Chrysler agreed to settle claims that the company cheated emissions regulations.

In January 2017, both the EPA and the California Air Resources Board sent Fiat Chrysler notices that its Ecodiesel vehicles violated regulations because of emissions cheating software. Some vehicles allegedly emitted up to 20 times the legal limit.

Fiat Chrysler has agreed to update emissions control software for free and to provide an extended warranty on the affected vehicles.

Cash payments will range from $990 for lessees to $3,075 for vehicle owners. (If the vehicle has already been claimed by another class member, the second class member will receive $2,460.)

To file a claim, you must show current vehicle registration, driver’s license information, date the vehicle was purchased or leased, and proof of current or former ownership/lease by the claim form deadline of Aug. 1, 2019.

Click here for details.

Toyota Sienna Sliding Doors

Imagine driving down the road and for no apparent reason, your minivan’s sliding door opens.

If you owned or leased a 2011 to 2018 Toyota Sienna minivan, you could have the vehicle inspected, repaired and receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs for such repairs from this class action settlement. You might also be eligible for a loan vehicle from a Toyota dealership through Toyota’s Customer Confidence Program.

Class members who already incurred out-of-pocket expenses to fix the sliding door before March 1, 2019 can make a claim for reimbursement.

The deadline to complete the inspection and repairs or to submit for reimbursement is Aug. 2, 2019.

For complete details on the Toyota Sienna sliding door awards, click here.

Purex Laundry Detergent

If you purchased Purex Natural Elements laundry detergent by Henkel Consumer Goods Inc. between May 19, 2013 and March 8, 2019, you could receive between $2 and $4 for each product you purchased as part of a $1.5 million class-action settlement.

Covered Purex products include all sizes of the following detergents:

• Purex Natural Elements Laundry Detergent
• Purex Ultra Natural Elements HE Detergent
• Purex Natural Elements HE Laundry Detergent
• Purex Natural Elements Ultra Concentrate HE

All scents of these detergents are also covered:

• Linen & Lilies Scent
• Lilac & White Lavender Scent
• Tropical Splash Scent

Actual award amounts are subject to adjustment, but the settlement indicates anyone who bought a container of less than 150 ounces will receive $2 per container, and those who bought the detergent in a size of more than 150 ounces will receive $4 per container.

Even though there’s no limit to the number of claims you can submit with proof of purchase, consumers are limited to a maximum of 10 claims without receipts.

For the full scoop on the Purex Natural Elements settlement, click here and submit your claim by the Aug. 10, 2019 deadline.

Comcast Set-Top Box Rental Fees

Did you pay set-top box rental fees to Comcast between Jan. 1, 2005 and Sept. 5, 2018? If so, you could benefit from a $15.5 million class-action settlement.

Current and former Comcast premium subscribers in California, Washington or West Virginia who were charged a Comcast set-top box rental fee during that period can receive up to $15 in cash or $59.95 in Comcast credit.

Premium subscribers in the U.S. who opted out of Comcast’s arbitration clause also can receive the same benefits from this class-action settlement.

Potential awards are divided into three classes:

• Customers who rented a set-top box from one month to 3 years are entitled to $10 cash.
• Customers who rented a set-top box from 3 to 5 years are entitled to $12.50 cash.
• Customers who rented a set-top box for more than 5 years are entitled to $15 cash.

Former Comcast customers must provide proof of purchase in the form of one of the following documents showing that a Comcast payment was made between Jan. 2, 2005 and Sept. 5, 2018:

• Credit card or bank statement
• Cancelled check
• Comcast invoice showing rental fee charge

Current Comcast customers will just need to provide their account number.

For complete details and to file a claim by the Aug. 31, 2019 deadline, click here.

Swisher Sweets Cigars BOGO Offer

Swisher International and Plaid Pantry have agreed to distribute $2.5 million in cigar vouchers to settle a buy-one-get-one-free class-action lawsuit.

Consumers who bought Swisher cigars under the “five for the price of three,” “three for the price of two,” “buy one, get one free,” or “buy four get one free” promotions from Aug. 25, 2015, through Feb. 7, 2019, can receive up to five $1 vouchers to use toward future purchases of Swisher cigar products.

No proof of purchase is required, but the settlement ends when the $2.5 million cap is reached or when a year has passed since the first voucher distribution, whichever happens first.

This offer goes up in smoke after Oct. 4, 2020, so file a claim today.

Louisville Slugger Defect

According to a class-action lawsuit against baseball bat maker Louisville Slugger and Wilson Sporting Goods, certain bats contain a defect in the connection between the barrel and the handle that causes the bats to come apart.

If you purchased a new Louisville Slugger Prime 915 BBCOR baseball bat, a new Louisville Slugger Prime 916 BBCOR baseball bat, or a new Louisville Slugger Prime 917 BBCOR baseball bat from retailers (excluding auction sites like eBay) after April 21, 2015, you could qualify for this class-action settlement.

Valid claims must be submitted with proof of purchase by Oct. 10, 2019. Two weeks after submitting the claim form, you will be contacted to have an inspector inspect the bat about three weeks later.

If the bat is found to be defective, you will receive a replacement bat. If the bat is found not to have any defects, you will be offered a 20% discount voucher.

If a defective bat is keeping you from having a ball out on the field, click here for complete details.