On Oct. 2, King County Superior Judge Janet Helson approved the $14 million lawsuit settlement over years of misleading marketing emails from the grocery wholesaler. Eligible Costco members, who received the marketing material between June 2, 2021, and July 7, 2026, were contacted in July to file as members of the possible settlement. Members had until Aug. 24 to complete the claim form. Costco has denied any wrongdoing.
In addition to the $14 million settlement, Costco will also be required to pay $4.6 million in counsel fees and $2,500 to Michael Aaland, the named representative in the case. All remaining funds will go to the nonprofit Legal Foundation of Washington, according to court documents.
What is the Costco case about?
The class action lawsuit, originally filed in King County Superior Court in 2025, alleges that the wholesaler violated state law by sending emails “containing false or misleading subject lines” to Washington shoppers. Some of these emails, according to the settlement website, contained message like “Today is the last day to access Member-Only Saving” and “Hot Buys available for 5 Days Only.”
According to court documents, Costco is accused of violating the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act and the Washington Consumer Protection Act. According to the state’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act, Washington residents who receive these illegal emails can seek up to $500 in damages.
More in the article.