Michigan Redbook, Elle Magazine Subscriber Class Action Settlement

A $50 million class action settlement fund has been established to resolve claims that Michigan magazine subscribers to some of the most popular U.S. publications including O, The Oprah Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Redbook and others, had their personal information sold to third parties without permission.

The settlement will benefit individuals with Michigan street addresses who, on or before July 30, 2016, had a subscription to Hearst publications, including but not limited to: Country Living, Cosmopolitan, Elle Decor, Elle, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, O, The Oprah Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Redbook, Road & Track, Seventeen, Town & Country, Veranda, and Woman’s Day.

According to class action allegations against Hearst Communications Inc., the company violated Michigan’s Preservation of Personal Privacy Act (aka Michigan’s Video Rental Privacy Act) by sharing customer information with third parties.

These state laws protect consumer information from being shared without their consent and specifically related to information about purchasing or media renting habits.

According to the Hearst magazines class action lawsuit, companies who purchase subscriber data “often use information from subscriber lists to lure unsuspecting consumers, many of whom are elderly, into various scams, including fraudulent sweepstakes, charities, and buying clubs.”

The Michigan magazine class action lawsuit was originally filed in 2015 by plaintiff Josephine James Edwards. Since its beginning, the suit was subject to an unsuccessful dismissal bid by Hearst and several discovery disputes.

“Hearst’s subscribers are completely unaware that Hearst is selling their personal information on the open market because Hearst does not obtain consent prior to selling the intimate personal data,” the Michigan magazine class action lawsuit states.

In order to avoid further legal battles and the costs associated with continuing litigation, both Edwards and Hearst agreed to settle the suit for $50 million.

Under the settlement, Class Members who file a valid claim will receive a payment estimated at $155. Class counsel will seek up to one third of the settlement fund in attorneys’ fees, plus costs and expenses. The settlement fund will also pay Edwards $10,000 as a service award for her time as lead plaintiff.

Class Members have until March 25, 2019 to file a valid claim either online or through the mail. Proof of purchase is not required. The final approval hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2019.

Michigan consumers who want to object or ask to be excluded from the class action settlement, have until March 25, 2019 to do so.

Who’s Eligible

Individuals who had a Michigan street address and had a subscription to a Hearst publication on or before July 30, 2016.

Hearst publications include: Country Living, Cosmopolitan, Elle Decor, Elle, Esquire, Food Network Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Harper’s Bazaar, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, O, The Oprah Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Redbook, Road & Track, Seventeen, Town & Country, Veranda, and Woman’s Day.

Potential Award

$155

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Class Members can also print a claim form from the website and mail it in.

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

3/25/2019

Case Name

Edwards v. Hearst Communications Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-09279-AT-JLC, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Final Hearing

3/28/19

UPDATE: The Michigan Redbook, Elle Magazine Subscriber Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on April 24, 2019. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

UPDATE 2: Top Class Actions viewers have reported receiving settlement checks for as much as $98.72 from the Michigan Redbook, Elle Magazine Subscriber Class Action Settlement!

Settlement Website

www.HearstSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Hearst Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91225
Seattle, WA 98111-9931
1-888-593-6759
info@HearstSettlement.com

Class Counsel

Scott A. Bursor
Joseph I. Marchese
Philip L. Fraiette
BURSOR & FISHER PA

John C. Carey
David P. Milian
CAREY RODRIGUEZ MILIAN GONYA LLP

Defense Counsel

Jonathan R. Donnellan
Kristina E. Findikyan
Stephen H. Yuhan
Evan J. Saucier
THE HEARST CORPORATION OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL

Benjamin E. Marks
Eric S. Hochstadt
WEIL GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP