Published
October 20, 2026
Updated
October 31, 2026
People who bought an 18- or 20-count box of nine Bigelow teas labeled “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned” at a California retail store between October 17, 2017 and July 31, 2023 can claim $0.50 a box from a $6.5 million settlement, up to $10 without a receipt or $20 with one. Claims are open through February 8, 2027.
Current Status
Claims are open. Judge Stephen V. Wilson of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted preliminary approval on October 5, 2026, and the claim form is now live on the official settlement website. Claims are due February 8, 2027, submitted online or postmarked by mail. The final approval hearing is May 17, 2027 at 1:30 p.m., and class counsel estimate payments in mid-2027 if the settlement is approved.Free settlement alerts
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Status
Claims Open
preliminary approval Oct. 5, 2026 · final approval hearing May 17, 2027
Claim Deadline
February 8, 2027
file online or by mail · opt-out and objection deadline Jan. 7, 2027
Estimated Payout
$0.50 a box
up to $10 without a receipt · up to $20 with proof of purchase · one cap per household
Proof Required
No
Unique ID optional on the online form · sworn statement, no receipt, for up to $10 · receipts needed for up to $20
What Changed Recently?
Judge Stephen V. Wilson granted preliminary approval on October 5, 2026 in Banks, et al. v. R.C. Bigelow, Inc., No. 2:20-cv-06208, a case filed in 2020 that went to trial. On April 8, 2025, a jury found that Bigelow violated California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, breached an express warranty and made a false representation by labeling the teas “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned,” and awarded $2,360,744 to the plaintiffs and the class. The court entered judgment on May 29, 2025.Bigelow appealed to the Ninth Circuit in September 2025. After the parties accepted a mediator’s proposal on June 9, 2026, the Ninth Circuit dismissed the appeal on July 22, 2026 without prejudice to reinstatement if the settlement is not approved. Bigelow continues to deny wrongdoing, and the court’s order says the settlement is not a finding or admission of liability by Bigelow.
Who Qualifies?
The class is all natural persons who bought at least one 18- or 20-count box of a covered Bigelow tea, labeled “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned,” at a retail store in California from October 17, 2017 to July 31, 2023. Only R.C. Bigelow products are included; no other tea brand is part of the case. The settlement covers the caffeinated versions of these nine teas:- Bigelow Earl Grey Black Tea
- Bigelow Green Tea
- Bigelow Constant Comment Black Tea
- Bigelow Green Lemon Tea
- Bigelow Vanilla Chai Black Tea
- Bigelow English Tea Time Black Tea
- Bigelow Spiced Chai Black Tea
- Bigelow French Vanilla Black Tea
- Bigelow Vanilla Caramel Black Tea
Purchases online or outside California are not covered. Bigelow, its distributors and retailers, the court and its staff, the mediator, counsel of record and their immediate families are excluded, as are people who opted out.
How Much Can You Get?
Each valid claim is worth $0.50 for every box bought. A claim without proof of purchase, made by a sworn statement, is capped at $10, or 20 boxes. A claim with proof of purchase, such as a receipt or paid invoice showing the place, date and quantity, is capped at $20, or 40 boxes. Claims from the same mailing address are paid together up to one household cap.Bigelow will pay $6,500,000 in total, and none of it goes back to the company. At least $2,548,187, the jury’s award plus two years of post-judgment interest, is set aside for class payments. If claims exceed that amount, payments are reduced pro rata; if claims fall short, payments increase pro rata up to $20 without proof or $40 with proof. Money left unclaimed goes to Feeding America. The rest of the $6.5 million covers attorneys’ fees of $2,746,451 and expenses of $653,756, subject to court approval, service awards of $25,000 for each of the two class representatives, and $501,605.90 in notice and administration costs. Class counsel are The Wand Law Firm, P.C. and Schneider Wallace Cottrell Kim LLP.
What Proof or Notice ID Is Required?
No notice ID is required. The online claim form opens by asking for the Unique ID printed on the emailed settlement notice, and it states that anyone without the ID can skip that step and continue. Under Option A, a claimant with no receipt lists the number of boxes bought of each tea and signs a statement under penalty of perjury, for up to $10. Under Option B, a claimant uploads proof of purchase, such as a receipt or paid invoice, for up to $20. Online claimants can choose a check, Zelle, PayPal or Venmo; the paper claim form, mailed to the administrator, pays by check only.What Is the Deadline?
Claims are due February 8, 2027, postmarked or submitted electronically. Requests for exclusion and objections are due January 7, 2027. Objections are filed with the court, not sent to the administrator.How Do You Take Action?
The claim form is on the official settlement website, run by JND Legal Administration, which also posts the long-form notice, the settlement agreement and the court’s orders. A paper claim form can be downloaded from the same site and mailed to the administrator by the deadline; the settlement website lists the mailing address.What Happens Next?
Notice began in late October 2026 and must be completed by December 8, 2026. Class counsel’s fee application is due December 3, 2026, and the motion for final approval is due April 19, 2027. The final approval hearing is May 17, 2027 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 10A of the First Street Courthouse in Los Angeles. Payments go out within 30 days after the administrator receives the settlement money, which happens after the settlement becomes final.Sources and Verification
• Official settlement website• Order granting preliminary approval (ECF 311, October 5, 2026), motion for preliminary approval with the settlement agreement and proposed claim forms (ECF 308), judgment (ECF 276, May 29, 2025) and notice of appeal (ECF 290), Banks, et al. v. R.C. Bigelow, Inc., No. 2:20-cv-06208-SVW-RAO (C.D. Cal.)
Questions
Which Bigelow teas are in the settlement?
Eighteen- and 20-count boxes of Bigelow Earl Grey, Green Tea, Constant Comment, Green Lemon, Vanilla Chai, English Tea Time, Spiced Chai, French Vanilla and Vanilla Caramel teas labeled “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned,” bought at a California retail store from October 17, 2017 to July 31, 2023.
How much is the Bigelow tea settlement payment?
$0.50 per box, capped at $10 for claims without proof of purchase and $20 for claims with proof. Payments can rise pro rata to as much as $20 and $40 if claims fall short of the money set aside, or fall pro rata if claims exceed it.
Can I file a Bigelow tea claim now?
Yes. The claim form is open on the official settlement website, and claims are due February 8, 2027. The Unique ID from the emailed notice is optional on the online form, and a claim of up to $10 needs no receipt.
Did a jury find against Bigelow?
Yes. On April 8, 2025, a jury found that Bigelow violated the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, breached an express warranty and made a false representation, and awarded $2,360,744. Bigelow appealed, continues to deny wrongdoing, and settled without admitting liability.
Official Settlement Notice
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Settlement Amount
$6,500,000
Case Title
Banks, et al. v. R.C. Bigelow, Inc.
Case Number
2:20-cv-06208-SVW-RAO
Court
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Final Approval Hearing
May 17, 2027 at 1:30 PM
Courtroom 10A, First Street Courthouse, Los Angeles
Administrator
JND Legal Administration
Official Website
Tea Class Action
