The deadline may have recently passed for opting out, but it's not too late for eligible U.S. Android users to claim their share of a $135 million settlement from Google in the case known as Joseph Taylor, et al. v. Google LLC. If you’ve used an Android phone on a cellular data plan in the U.S. between November 13, 2017, and now, you could be eligible for compensation. The lawsuit alleges that Google's servers utilized cellular data paid for by users without their consent, even when their devices were idle.
Eligibility Criteria for Claim Submission
To be eligible for a claim, you must have used an Android device on a cellular data plan in the U.S. during the specified dates. The lawsuit asserts that Google's servers accessed data paid for by Android users even when their phones were not in use, leading to unnecessary data charges for these consumers.
Users were unknowingly incurring costs while their devices were completely still, with all apps closed and not being touched. This practice has raised concerns about the misuse of users’ data and the resulting financial burden.
Final Court Approval Date
The settlement was reached as part of a class-action lawsuit initiated by plaintiffs in 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The hearing for final court approval of the $135 million settlement is scheduled for June 23.
Typically, class-action settlements have a reputation for favoring attorneys significantly more than plaintiffs, who often receive minimal compensation due to the sheer number of involved parties. The actual payout, however, will be determined by the number of valid claims accepted by the court. Estimates suggest that each eligible claimant could receive less than $100, while attorneys could take anywhere from $33.75 million to $40 million.
Where Did the Math Lead Us?
Unfortunately, if the estimates hold true, Android users may only receive about $5 each. The settlement website forecasts around 100 million claims. After accounting for attorney fees, that leaves approximately $101.3 million to be divided among this massive number of claims, resulting in an average payout of just $1.01 per claimant.
A critical deadline is approaching in the Taylor v. Google class action settlement. | Image by federalcellularclassaction
How to Declare Your Payment Method
You can visit the official settlement website for more detailed information. Ensure that you fill out the necessary form indicating your preferred payment method. You'll need your Notice ID and Confirmation Code to complete the process. If you don't provide these, while you're still eligible for a share, the administrators may not know how to reach you.
If you haven't received these details via email, please check your spam folder or contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-844-655-4255, or email Info@FederalCellularClassaction.com for assistance.
Compensation in Related Cases
In addition to the Taylor case, Google recently settled another similar legal action, Attila Csupo et al. v. Google LLC, for $350 million. In this case, users may receive around $16.75 each, as Google again allegedly misused cellular data without user consent during idle times.
