The New York Times (NYT) has been involved in several class action lawsuits related to its subscription renewal practices. The new settlement provides a pro rata portion of the $2.4 million fund for timely and valid claims. Be sure to submit your claim before the deadline i.e., August 19, 2024.
NYT Renewal Settlement
The NYT settlement provides monetary relief to subscribers who were enrolled in automatically renewing New York Times subscriptions between June 17, 2016, and May 12, 2021, and were charged renewal fees.
The settlement fund will be used to distribute payments to eligible class members, cover administrative costs, attorney’s fees, and an incentive award to the class representative. Be sure to submit your claim before the deadline i.e., August 19, 2024.
In addition to monetary compensation, the New York Times has agreed to revise its auto-renewal terms and practices to enhance transparency and clarity for subscribers. The goal is to ensure that subscribers have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions associated with their subscriptions.
NYT Renewal Settlement Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the New York Times renewal settlement, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must have enrolled in an automatically renewing New York Times subscription directly through The New York Times Company between June 17, 2016, and May 12, 2021.
- Billing and Delivery Address: Your billing and/or delivery address must have been in California during the subscription period.
- Automatic Renewal Fees: You must have been charged and paid at least one automatic renewal fee for your New York Times subscription during the specified period.
- Direct Subscription: You must have subscribed directly to The New York Times and not through a third-party vendor.
- California Residency: Your billing or delivery address needed to be within California during the relevant timeframe.
- Automatic Renewal Charges: Proof of automatic renewal fees is a requirement for eligibility.
NYT Renewal Settlement Process
The settlement process in the New York Times renewal case was a complex and protracted affair involving multiple stages and legal challenges.
Initial Settlement:
- Class Action Lawsuit: The case began as a class action lawsuit filed by Maribel Moses in 2016, alleging deceptive auto-renewal practices by the New York Times.
- Negotiations: After years of legal proceedings, the parties involved in the lawsuit entered into negotiations to reach a settlement.
- Proposed Settlement: A proposed settlement was reached in 2020, which included a settlement fund of approximately $1.7 million for affected subscribers.
- Public Opposition: The initial settlement faced significant criticism due to perceived inadequate compensation for class members and excessive attorney’s fees.
Appeals & Revised Settlement:
- Settlement Appeal: Due to public outcry and concerns raised about the fairness of the settlement, an appeal was filed.
- Overturned Settlement: In 2023, an appeals court overturned the initial settlement, citing issues with the legal standards applied and the fairness of the terms.
- Renewed Negotiations: Following the overturned settlement, the parties returned to the negotiation table to reach a new agreement.
- Revised Settlement: A revised settlement was announced in December 2023, offering a significantly larger settlement fund of nearly $2.4 million.
NYT Renewal Settlement Amount
The total settlement fund for the New York Times renewal case is $2,375,000.
It’s important to note that this amount is not the total amount that will be distributed to eligible class members. A portion of the settlement fund will be used to cover:
- Payments to class members
- Administrative costs of the settlement
- Attorney’s fees
- An award to the Class Representative
The exact amount each eligible class member will receive will depend on several factors, including the total number of claims filed and the amount of the settlement fund remaining after other expenses are paid. Therefore, the specific amount you might receive as a class member is not determined yet.
How to Claim Your Share of the NYT Renewal Settlement?
To claim your share of the New York Times renewal settlement, you must submit a valid claim form by the deadline i.e., August 19, 2024.
- Visit the Settlement Website, which is accessible only at https://www.nytrenewalsettlement.com/.
- Review the eligibility criteria to determine if you qualify for the settlement.
- You can submit a claim form online or request a paper copy.
- Accurately complete the claim form with the necessary information about your New York Times subscription, including dates, payment details, and contact information.
- Follow the instructions on the website or claim form to submit your claim by the deadline.