Rodale Magazine Subscriber Privacy Class Action Settlement

A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit accusing the magazine publisher Rodale Inc. of disclosing information about its subscribers and their subscriptions to third parties for marketing purposes without the consent of the subscribers.

If you purchased a subscription to a Rodale publication between July 1, 2009 and May 3, 2016, you may be entitled to benefits from the magazine subscription class action settlement. Rodale publications include:

• Bicycling
• Men’s Health
• Prevention
• Running Times
• Runner’s World
• Women’s Health
• Organic Life (formerly Organic Gardening)

According to the Michigan magazine class action lawsuit, Rodale violated Michigan’s Video Rental Privacy Act by disclosing its customers’ magazine subscription information and subscription histories to third party marketing companies without first obtaining the consent of the consumers.

Rodale denies any wrongdoing and denies that it violated any law. However, the magazine publisher has agreed to settle the class action lawsuit to avoid the expense and uncertainty of ongoing litigation. Rodale has created a $4.5 million Settlement Fund. Approximately 570,000 Class Members may be affected by this class action settlement.

Under the terms of the proposed magazine subscriber privacy settlement, Rodale will offer a cash payment to eligible Class Members. Rodale has also agreed that it will not disclose its Michigan customers’ subscription information to third party marketing companies without their prior express written consent for a period of four years. The magazine publisher has already updated its privacy policy to explain its disclosure practices.

Class Members who wish to object to or exclude themselves from the Rodale class action settlement must do so no later than July 19, 2016.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members of the magazine subscriber privacy settlement include anyone with a Michigan street address who purchased a subscription to a Rodale publication between July 1, 2009 and May 3, 2016. Rodale publications include the following magazines:

• Bicycling
• Men’s Health
• Prevention
• Running Times
• Runner’s World
• Women’s Health
• Organic Life (formerly Organic Gardening)

Potential Award

$100 (Estimated). Each Class Member who submits a valid and timely Claim Form will receive a proportionate share of the Settlement Fund.

Proof of Purchase

N/A. Class Members must declare under the penalty of perjury that they have/had a Michigan street address and purchased a Rodale publication between July 1, 2009 and May 3, 2016.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Class Members who prefer mailing in their Claim Form, can download a printable version here! 

Claim Form Deadline

12/09/2016

Case Name

Coulter-Owens v. Rodale Inc., Case No. 2:14-cv-12688, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Final Hearing

09/07/2016

UPDATE: On Sept. 29, 2016, the court granted the Rodale Magazine Subscriber Privacy settlement final approval.  Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our  Facebook page.

UPDATE 2: On Feb. 9, 2017, Top Class Actions viewers who submitted timely and valid claims for the Rodale magazine class action settlement began receiving checks worth as much as $41.22!

Settlement Website

www.MichiganMagazineSettlement.net

Claims Administrator

Magazine Subscriber Privacy Settlement
Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 3207
Portland, OR 97208-3207
1-877-853-4241

Class Counsel

Jay Edelson
Ari J. Scharg
Benjamin S. Thomassen
EDELSON PC

Defense Counsel

Natalie J. Spears
DENTONS US LLP