Hudson v. Palm Beach Tan Text Message Settlement

A Claim Form is required to receive money. The notice gives online and mail options, but does not provide further details about how the administrator decides whether a particular form is valid.

• Submit the Claim Form online or download it and mail it to the Settlement Administrator at P.O. Box 301172, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1172.
• The form must be submitted online or postmarked by October 4, 2026.
• The notice does not say what information or supporting documents the form requires. It only says that claims must be valid and that the number of Post-Stop Messages is based on text-message data.

The $1,500 figure is a per-message maximum, not a promised payment. A person’s payment depends on how many qualifying Post-Stop Messages are reflected in the data and the final per-message amount.

• The $2.5 million fund is reduced by settlement administration costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses, and any court-approved incentive award to the Class Representative.
• After those deductions, each successful claimant receives the same payment amount for each Post-Stop Message shown in the text-message data.
• The amount cannot exceed $1,500 for a Post-Stop Message. The actual amount may be lower because it depends on the number of valid, timely claims and the money left in the fund.

Excluding yourself, also called opting out, means you will not receive settlement benefits. In return, you keep the right to bring your own case against the defendants about these issues rather than being bound by this settlement.

• Mail a letter to the Settlement Administrator, postmarked by October 4, 2026.
• Include your full name and address, the case name, your telephone number, and the telephone number that received a Post-Stop Message.
• The letter must clearly say that you want to be excluded and must have your original signature, or the original signature of someone legally authorized to act for you.

Objecting is different from opting out. An objector remains in the Settlement Class and may tell the Court why they oppose some or all of the proposed settlement.

• Only a Settlement Class Member who has not opted out may object.
• File the objection with the Court and mail it to Class Counsel, PBT’s counsel, and Archer’s counsel by October 4, 2026.
• The objection must identify you and the relevant phone number, be signed, explain the factual and legal reasons for the objection, include supporting documents you want considered, and state whether you plan to attend the hearing or give testimony.

This release applies to people who remain in the class, not only to people who submit claims.

• You are bound by the Court’s orders if you stay in the Settlement Class.
• You release claims arising from or connected with PBT Messages to Settlement Class Members during June 19, 2019 through July 5, 2026.
• This means you cannot sue, or take part in another lawsuit, against PBT, Archer, or the other parties covered by the release over the claims or issues covered here.

Payments are not scheduled until after valid claims are counted and the Court gives final approval. The notice does not provide a specific payment date.

• The Court is scheduled to hold the hearing on December 29, 2026, in Courtroom One of the U.S. Courthouse at 324 W. Market Street, Greensboro, North Carolina.
• The Court will decide whether to approve the settlement and will rule on requested fees for Class Counsel and a requested incentive award for the Class Representative.
• You do not have to attend to receive a settlement benefit. The hearing may be moved to a later date without notice.

The notice does not identify the charitable organization.

• Money left over after payments, or benefit checks that class members do not cash, will not be redistributed under the notice.
• The notice says those funds will go to a charitable organization.