Christina Spicer  |  July 9, 2018

Category: Consumer News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Time Inc. has reportedly agreed to pay more than $7 million to end a class action lawsuit alleging the company violated Michigan privacy laws when it gave subscriber information to data mining companies.

Lead plaintiff Carolyn Perlin claims in the Time video privacy class action lawsuit that the company discloses personal information about its subscribers, including their reading habits, without the consent of the users.

Perlin, a Michigan resident, alleges that the submission of her and others’ personal information was a violation of their rights under Michigan privacy laws, specifically the state’s Video Rental Privacy Act (VPRA).

U.S. District Court Judge George Caram Steeh approved the proposed $7.4 million settlement agreement. Under the terms of the settlement, Class Members will receive between $25 and $50.

Class Members include “All persons with Michigan street addresses who purchased a subscription to a Time Publication directly from Time, but in a manner other than through a Time website, between February 19, 2013 and February 19, 2016.”

Those who purchased their subscription through the Time website do not qualify.

According to the Time video privacy class action lawsuit settlement, Class Members must complete and submit a Claim Form within 45 days of the final judgement.

The final approval hearing for the Time video privacy class action lawsuit settlement is Oct. 15, 2018. Class Members who wish to object or exclude themselves from the settlement agreement must do so by Sept. 14, 2018.

“The court further finds that the settlement agreement substantially fulfills the purposes and objectives of the class action, and provides substantial relief to the settlement class without the risks, burdens, costs, or delay associated with continued litigation, trial, and/or appeal,” noted the judge in the order approving the Time video privacy class action lawsuit settlement.

The Time video privacy class action lawsuit settlement agreement also bars the sale of subscriber data from Michigan residents without their knowledge and express consent.

“For a period of two years following the effective date of the settlement agreement, defendant agrees not to knowingly disclose any of its Michigan subscribers’ personal reading Information to any third­-party companies without first obtaining express written consent,” states the Time class action settlement agreement.

After being hit with the Time video privacy class action lawsuit in 2016, the magazine and publishing company argued for dismissal. Time argued that the plaintiff and proposed Class had not suffered a concrete injury from the sale of their personal information to data mining companies.

Judge Steeh disagreed, however, pointing out that Michigan state law, the VRPA, provides its residents certain privacy rights.

“The Settlement Agreement is fundamentally fair, adequate, and reasonable,” noted Judge Steeh in his order preliminarily approving the Time video privacy class action lawsuit settlement.

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

Perlin and the proposed Class are represented by Ari J. Scharg and Benjamin S. Thomassen of Edelson PC and Henry M. Scharg of the Law Office of Henry M. Scharg.

The Time Video Privacy Class Action Lawsuit is Perlin v. Time Inc., Case No. 2:16­-cv-­10635, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

UPDATE: July 2018, the Michigan Time magazine subscription class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.

One thought on Time Agrees to $7.4M Subscriber Privacy Class Action Settlement

  1. Robert Goudin says:

    Add me

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. By submitting your comment and contact information, you agree to receive marketing emails from Top Class Actions regarding this and/or similar lawsuits or settlements, and/or to be contacted by an attorney or law firm to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you if you qualify. Required fields are marked *

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.