Sunita Somvanshi
Costco Wholesale has agreed to a $14 million settlement over allegations that it sent commercial emails to Washington State residents without proper consent. If you are a Washington State resident who received promotional emails from Costco between June 2, 2021 and July 7, 2026, you may be eligible to file a claim.
The settlement received preliminary court approval on June 23, 2026. The claim deadline is August 24, 2026 — and the final approval hearing is scheduled for October 2, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. PT in Seattle.
What Was Costco Accused Of?
The lawsuit alleged that Costco violated Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) and the state’s Consumer Protection Act by sending commercial emails that did not comply with state opt-in and transparency requirements. Washington’s email law is notably stricter than the federal CAN-SPAM Act.
How to File a Claim
Visit WashingtonCommercialEmailSettlement.com to submit your claim online before the August 24, 2026 deadline. You will need to provide your name, email address, and confirm you are a Washington State resident who received Costco promotional emails during the covered period.
According to ClassAction.org, individual payout amounts will depend on the total number of valid claims submitted. Settlement funds are divided proportionally — the more claims filed, the smaller each individual share, though legal fees will be deducted from the $14 million total first.
Key Dates Summary
- Covered email period: June 2, 2021 – July 7, 2026
- Claim deadline: August 24, 2026
- Final approval hearing: October 2, 2026, 3:30 PM PT, Seattle
Do not miss the deadline — late claims are not accepted. If you object to the settlement terms, the process for filing an objection is also outlined on the settlement website.
