FASHION Nova will send up to $4,000 in cash payments as part of a $5.15 million class action lawsuit settlement.
The lawsuit claimed that the Fashion Nova website was inaccessible to legally blind individuals using screen-reading software.
Those eligible for cash benefits need to submit a valid claim form[/caption]
If you’re legally blind and attempted to access the Fashion Nova official website using screen-reader software between February 26, 2018, and now, you may be part of the settlement.
However, only California class members are eligible for a cash payment of up to $4,000.
Those eligible to receive benefits can submit a valid claim form by Oct. 20.
Eligible recipients have the following six options to receive payment.
- PayPal
- Venmo
- Zelle
- Visa (Via email)
- Paper check
- Direct deposit
The exact amount of the payment, however, depends on the amount of successfully approved claims.
If the net settlement amount is sufficient, each eligible applicant would receive $4,000, TopClassActions reports.
Otherwise, the net settlement amount would be divided equally among all approved claims.
Only California residents are eligible for cash payments because of the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
The Unruh Civil Rights Act, in particular, provides up to $4,000 in damages per violation of discrimination based on disability, according to OpenClassAction.com.
Fashion Nova denies the latest class-action lawsuit allegations and maintains it did nothing wrong.
However, it has agreed to deliver cash payments to eligible individuals who file a successful claim, and to make its website more accessible.
But this isn’t the first time the clothing company has found itself in hot water.
The company in February agreed to a $2.4 million settlement after it was accused of removing negative reviews from its website.
About 148,000 customers were expected to receive refunds as part of the settlement.
What’s a class-action settlement?
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or ‘classes,’ a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.
“Fashion Nova misrepresented that the product reviews on its website reflected the views of all customers who submitted reviews, when in fact it suppressed reviews with ratings lower than four stars out of five,” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in a press release.
The FTC sent checks and PayPal payments to those who filed a successful claim.
A settlement order also forbade the company from hiding negative reviews again.
In 2023, the FTC was involved in nearly $330 million in refund payments sent to recipients across the country.
Fashion Nova is currently accepting claims regarding the lawsuit surrounding its website accessibility.
The final approval hearing for this class action lawsuit settlement is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2026.
