Western Digital Hard Drive $2.7M Class Action Settlement

UPDATE:

• Claims are paying out up to $90.32 as of June 14, 2022.
• Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

Consumers who purchased certain WD Red NAS Western Digital hard drives using shingled magnetic recording technology, or SMR technology, may be eligible to benefit from a $2.7 million Western Digital class action lawsuit settlement over claims the products actually used technology inferior to what was represented.

The Class is made up of anyone in the United States, its districts, and territories who purchased a WD Red NAS drive using SMRSM technology between October 2018 and July 21, 2021. 

The following Western Digital hard drive models are covered by the settlement:

• WD20EFAX (2 TB capacity)
• WD30EFAX (3 TB capacity)
• WD40EFAX (4 TB capacity)
• WD60EFAX (6 TB capacity) 

Plaintiffs in the Western Digital class action lawsuit alleged that the company uses SMR technology in its WD Red NAS hard drives without disclosing that fact to customers.

Western Digital denies SMR is inferior technology and denies all accusations of wrongdoing; however, it has agreed to the settlement.

The Court has not ruled in favor of either party in this case.

Western Digital makes a variety of data-storage products, including hard drives and solid state drives, USB flash drives, and memory cards.

Class Members who file a valid claim form will receive a payment after attorneys’ fees and other expenses are paid from the settlement fund.

Payment amounts will depend on the capacity of the Western Digital hard drive the Class Member purchased and on how many valid claims are filed.

It is expected that those who purchased WD Red NAS drives with 2TB capacity (WD20EFAX) or 3TB capacity (WD30EFAX) will receive at least $4 for each drive, while those who purchased WD Red NAS drives with 4 TB capacity (WD40EFAX) or 6TB capacity (WD60EFAX) will receive at least $7 for each.

If the amount used to pay eligible claims is less than the full value of the net settlement fund, each claimant’s recovery will be increased proportionately up to a maximum of 85 percent of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) value of the drive purchased. The MSRP values to be used for such an adjustment will be: $84.99 for 2 TB drives, $106.99 for 3 TB drives, $119.99 for 4 TB drives, and $179.99 for 6 TB drives.

Also as part of the Western Digital class action lawsuit settlement, the company will disclose on product packaging for at least four years after the settlement’s final approval that the WD Red NAS drives use SMR technology.

A final hearing in the Western Digital class action settlement will be held Dec. 22, 2021.

The deadline to opt out of or object to the settlement is Dec. 3, 2021.

The claim deadline is Nov. 27, 2021.

Who’s Eligible

The Class is made up of anyone in the United States, its districts, and territories who purchased a WD Red NAS drive using shingled magnetic recording (SMR) technology between October 2018 and July 21, 2021.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase is necessary.

Claim Form

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

11/27/2021

Case Name

Final Hearing

12/22/2021

Settlement Website

WDRedNASHardDriveSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Malone v. Western Digital Corporation
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 11007
Seattle, WA 98111
info@WDRedNASHarddriveSettlement.com
833-677-1089

Class Counsel

Yitzchak Kopel
BURSOR & FISHER PA

Daniel M. Hattis
HATTIS & LUKACS

Defense Counsel

Eric Kizirian
LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP