What Is the Costco Lawsuit?
The Costco lawsuit is a group of at least ten separate lawsuits against Costco Wholesale Corporation, not a single case. Most are proposed consumer class actions in federal court, and none is a multidistrict litigation.
The cases cover alleged child and forced labor in Costco's supply chain, tariff refunds, rotisserie chicken labeling and salmonella risk, membership auto-renewal notices, Kirkland tortelloni labeling, heavy metals in Orgain protein powder, and misleading promotional emails. The Washington email case has settled, and a brand dispute with Lululemon has mostly settled.
Three of these cases have their own pages on this site: the Costco rotisserie chicken lawsuit, the Costco auto renewal lawsuit, and the Washington Costco email lawsuit. This page tracks all of the Costco lawsuits together.
Why Are People Filing Costco Lawsuits?
People are filing Costco lawsuits because plaintiffs allege Costco's labor, pricing, labeling, and membership claims did not match what shoppers actually received. Each case rests on a different complaint, so the reasons differ by lawsuit.
The Oregon plaintiffs say Costco promised ethical sourcing while selling products linked to child and forced labor. Two tariff suits say Costco raised prices on tariffed goods and could keep the refunds. Other plaintiffs say Kirkland and Orgain products carried labels that hid preservatives or contaminants.
Costco denied wrongdoing in the settled Washington email case. For the pending cases, the reports reviewed describe allegations only, and no court has ruled that any claim is true.
What Injuries Are Included in the Costco Lawsuit?
The Costco lawsuits include five distinct categories of alleged harm. Four are economic losses from allegedly misleading statements, and one is a health-related contamination theory, and Costco has denied or not yet answered each allegation.
Overpayment for Allegedly Misleading Product and Sourcing Claims
False advertising is a legal claim that a seller described a product in a way that misled buyers into paying more or buying something they would otherwise have skipped.
Several cases rest on this theory. The Oregon labor suit says membership fees bought ethical sourcing that Costco could not deliver, and the rotisserie chicken and tortelloni suits say "no preservatives" labels were false. The plaintiffs seek refunds or damages, and none of these claims has been decided.
Tariff Overcharges and Unjust Enrichment
Unjust enrichment is a legal claim that someone kept a benefit that fairly belongs to another person.
The tariff plaintiffs say shoppers paid higher prices because of import duties that the Supreme Court later ruled unlawful. They allege Costco could collect refunds from the government while keeping the higher prices. Costco has said it put most refunds it received into lower prices, which the plaintiffs may argue does not repay the shoppers who paid earlier.
Misleading Email Subject Lines
A commercial email law, such as Washington's Commercial Electronic Mail Act, bars false or misleading information in the subject line of a marketing message.
The Washington email case alleged that "last day" and "five days only" promotions were extended past their stated deadlines. Costco denied wrongdoing, and the case ended in a class settlement rather than a ruling.
Membership Auto-Renewal Notice Violations
Automatic renewal laws require a business to send clear notice before it charges a customer again for a subscription or membership.
The California auto-renewal case alleges Costco's renewal reminder arrived outside the window the state requires and left out key terms. Costco has answered the complaint, and the court has referred the case to private mediation.
Alleged Contamination and Food Safety Risk
A contamination claim alleges that a food or supplement contained a harmful substance that the label did not disclose.
One rotisserie chicken suit alleges salmonella risk tied to a supplier's food safety record, and the Orgain suit alleges lead, cadmium, and arsenic in protein powder. Both are allegations, and the defendants dispute them. Anyone with a health concern should consult a medical professional.
Who Qualifies for the Costco Lawsuit?
You may qualify if:
- You bought or renewed a Costco membership since October 1, 2025 at an Oregon warehouse or with an Oregon address, which is the proposed class in the Oregon labor sourcing case
- You bought tariff-affected products from Costco in the period covered by one of the two tariff refund complaints, whose proposed classes are still undefined by any court
- You bought a product named in a pending complaint, such as Kirkland Signature rotisserie chicken or Orgain protein powder, and live in a state the complaint covers
You may not qualify if:
- You only received Costco emails while living outside Washington, because the email settlement covered Washington residents only
- You missed the August 24, 2026 claims deadline in the Washington email settlement
- You are a Costco member outside the states and periods that a pending complaint defines for its proposed class
No court has certified a litigated class in the pending Costco cases reviewed here, so these descriptions are proposed classes only. Only a qualified attorney reviewing your purchase records can confirm whether you fall inside any of them.
What Is the Current Status of the Costco Lawsuits?
The current status of the Costco lawsuits is mixed. The Washington email case has settled, a brand dispute with Lululemon has mostly settled, and the remaining consumer class actions are at the pleading or early pretrial stage with no litigated class certification reported.
Brunker v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, No. 3:26-cv-02035-YY
The Oregon case alleges Costco sold Kirkland products made with child or forced labor while promising otherwise. The named examples are Kirkland dog food, milk, and frozen shrimp, and reports show no response from Costco yet.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Portland Division |
| Filed | October 1, 2026 |
| Plaintiffs | Leslie Brunker and Jeremy Parra |
| Claims Alleged | Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act; unjust enrichment |
| Relief Sought | $200 in statutory damages per member, punitive damages, refunds, and an injunction |
| Current Stage | Newly filed, no ruling reported |
Sockov v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, No. 26-cv-02734
Matthew Sockov, an Illinois member, filed the first tariff refund suit after the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs on February 20, 2026. He alleges Costco could recover tariff costs twice, from customers and from the government.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois |
| Filed | March 2026 |
| Claims Alleged | Unjust enrichment |
| Current Stage | No ruling reported in sources reviewed |
Tariff refund suit, Western District of Washington
Seven members from Washington, Ohio, California, and Pennsylvania filed a second tariff suit through the firm Emery Reddy. The firm says it covers Costco sales of IEEPA-tariffed goods between February 1 and February 24, 2025.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed nationwide federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington |
| Reported | March 24, 2026 |
| Plaintiffs | Seven named members, four of them Washington residents |
| Claims Alleged | Unjust enrichment and related claims over tariff price increases |
| Current Stage | No ruling reported in sources reviewed |
Aaland v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, No. 25-2-16392-0
The Washington email case ended in a class settlement, and reports say the court approved it in early October 2026. The settlement terms and payout estimates appear in the settlement section below.
| Proceeding Type | State-court class action, settled |
| Court | Superior Court of Washington, King County |
| Judge | Janet Helson |
| Case Number | 25-2-16392-0 |
| Settlement Status | Final approval reported October 8, 2026 |
| Claims Deadline | August 24, 2026 (passed) |
Johnston v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, No. 3:26-cv-00403-AJB-AHG
Two California plaintiffs allege the "no preservatives" signage on Kirkland rotisserie chicken is false because the chicken contains sodium phosphate and carrageenan. Costco moved to dismiss, and a hearing had been set for September 17, 2026.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of California |
| Filed | January 22, 2026 |
| Plaintiffs | Bianca Johnston and Anatasia Chernov |
| Current Stage | Costco's motion to dismiss pending |
Taylor v. Costco Wholesale Corp.
Lisa Taylor's suit alleges chronic salmonella contamination risk in Kirkland rotisserie and raw chicken, tied to a Nebraska supplier's USDA inspection history. Costco moved to dismiss on April 17, 2026.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington |
| Filed | February 2026 |
| Proposed Class | U.S. purchasers of Kirkland Signature chicken products since January 1, 2019 |
| Current Stage | Costco's motion to dismiss pending |
George v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. 3:26-cv-02369-TSH
Russel George alleges Costco emailed his renewal reminder outside California's required window before charging $65. Costco answered on June 18, 2026, and the court sent the case to private mediation.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Northern District of California |
| Judge | Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson |
| Filed | March 18, 2026 |
| Current Stage | Answer filed; referred to private ADR |
Turner v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. 8:26-cv-01013
Sydney Turner alleges Kirkland Signature Five Cheese Tortelloni says "no preservatives" while listing manufactured citric acid. She seeks a nationwide class and state subclasses.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Central District of California |
| Filed | April 29, 2026 |
| Claims Alleged | California consumer protection laws, breach of warranty, fraud, unjust enrichment |
| Current Stage | No ruling reported in sources reviewed |
Orgain protein powder suit, Western District of Washington
Seven consumers allege Orgain protein powders sold at Costco contain lead, cadmium, and arsenic that were not disclosed. Orgain has said its products are safe.
| Proceeding Type | Proposed federal class action (not an MDL) |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington |
| Filed | July 7, 2026 |
| Plaintiffs | Seven consumers from across the United States |
| Counsel | Hagens Berman |
| Current Stage | No ruling reported in sources reviewed |
Is There a Costco Lawsuit Settlement?
Yes. Costco agreed to a $14 million settlement of the Washington email case, which is the only Costco lawsuit settlement with consumer payments reported.
The court approved 313,275 valid claims, and the claims window closed on August 24, 2026. The payout per claimant has not been officially announced, and Costco has denied wrongdoing.
Seattle Red calculated about $30 per valid claim before administrative costs. That estimate subtracts roughly $4.6 million in attorneys' fees and a $2,500 award to lead plaintiff Michael Aaland, then divides the rest equally among the claimants.
Leftover money goes to the Legal Foundation of Washington, according to the same report. Payments follow final approval and the resolution of any appeals.
No other Costco case reports a settlement fund. The Oregon complaint asks for $200 per member in statutory damages, but that figure is relief sought and not an award, and a court has decided nothing.
A "$250 payout" circulates in searches, yet none of the sources reviewed for this page describes a $250 Costco payout.
Costco Lawsuit Updates
Here are the latest Costco lawsuit updates, covering new court filings, rulings, and case-count reports as they're confirmed. The pending Costco consumer class actions continue in active pretrial proceedings as of October 2026, with no global settlement reached. See the full timeline below for every confirmed development since the litigation began.
Full Costco Lawsuit Timeline
Reports Say Court Gave Final Approval to the Washington Email Settlement
MyNorthwest and Seattle Red reported on October 8 and 9, 2026 that Judge Janet Helson of King County Superior Court approved the Aaland v. Costco settlement. The court counted 313,275 valid claims.
Oregon Members File a Forced Labor Class Action
Leslie Brunker and Jeremy Parra filed Brunker v. Costco in the District of Oregon on October 1, 2026. Their 95-page complaint says Costco sells Kirkland products tied to child and forced labor.
Costco Reports $184 Million in Tariff Refunds
On its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call, Costco said it received $184 million in tariff refunds and interest. Executives said most of it went into lower prices on items such as produce, meat, beverages, and some nonfood goods.
Washington Email Claims Window Closes
The claims deadline in the Aaland v. Costco settlement passed on August 24, 2026. Each class member could file only one claim, whatever the number of qualifying emails received.
Seven Consumers Sue Costco Over Orgain Protein Powder
A proposed class action filed in the Western District of Washington accuses Costco of selling Orgain protein powders that contain undisclosed lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Hagens Berman announced the filing.
King County Court Preliminarily Approves the Email Settlement
Judge Helson granted preliminary approval to Costco's class settlement of the Washington email case. The class covers Washington residents who received Costco commercial emails from June 2, 2021 through July 7, 2026.
Costco Answers the California Auto-Renewal Complaint
Costco filed its answer in George v. Costco on June 18, 2026. The court had already sent that case to private alternative dispute resolution.
Costco Moves to Dismiss the Rotisserie Chicken Preservatives Case
Costco asked the Southern District of California on June 4, 2026 to dismiss Johnston v. Costco. The plaintiffs opposed the motion on June 22, 2026.
Lululemon and Costco Settle All Claims Except a Men's Jacket
Bloomberg Law reported in May 2026 that Lululemon and Costco settled their dupes dispute apart from one men's zip-up jacket claim. A Spyder deal in the Central District of California resolved the women's yoga jacket claims.
Sydney Turner Sues Over Kirkland Tortelloni Labeling
Turner v. Costco reached the Central District of California on April 29, 2026. The complaint targets a "no preservatives" claim on Kirkland Signature Five Cheese Tortelloni.
Costco Moves to Dismiss the Salmonella Case
Costco asked the Western District of Washington on April 17, 2026 to dismiss Taylor v. Costco. The suit alleges salmonella risk in Kirkland chicken.
Second Tariff Refund Suit Reported in Washington
ClassAction.org reported on March 24, 2026 that seven members sued Costco in the Western District of Washington over tariff price increases. The suit came after the February Supreme Court ruling.
George Files the California Auto-Renewal Class Action
Russel George filed George v. Costco in the Northern District of California on March 18, 2026. It challenges the timing and content of Costco's renewal reminder.
Illinois Member Files the First Tariff Refund Suit
Reuters reported on March 11, 2026 that a Costco member sued in federal court in Illinois for a share of tariff refunds. Matthew Sockov alleges unjust enrichment.
Supreme Court Strikes Down the IEEPA Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2026 that the president lacked authority under IEEPA to impose the tariffs. The ruling led to the tariff refund suits against Costco.
Johnston and Chernov File the Rotisserie Chicken Case
Bianca Johnston and Anatasia Chernov filed their proposed class action in the Southern District of California on January 22, 2026. It says Kirkland rotisserie chicken is falsely labeled preservative-free.
How to File a Costco Lawsuit
To file a Costco lawsuit, start with the 6 steps below.
- Identify which Costco lawsuit matches your experience: The cases cover different products, states, and time periods, so a purchase may fit one case, several, or none.
- Check whether a claim process exists: The only Costco claim process reported was the Washington email settlement, and it closed on August 24, 2026.
- Gather your Costco records: Membership details, receipts, renewal emails, and product packaging help an attorney judge whether you fit a proposed class.
- Read the class definition in the complaint: The Oregon case, for example, covers purchases or renewals since October 1, 2025 tied to Oregon.
- Use only official sources to sign up: Real settlements run through a court-approved administrator website and never charge a fee to join.
- Consult an attorney about your own claim: Deadlines and eligibility depend on your state and facts, and only a qualified attorney can assess them.
Answer a few questions and a case reviewer will follow up. Free, no obligation.
A case reviewer will follow up soon.
Do You Need Proof to Join a Costco Class Action Lawsuit?
No, not for the only Costco settlement that has run a claims process. The Washington email settlement paid valid claims without requiring proof of purchase, using a claim ID and PIN from the notice or a form.
The pending cases have no claims process yet, so no proof requirement exists for them. If a class is later certified or a settlement is reached, the notice will say what documents are needed.
Keeping Costco receipts, membership renewal emails, and the packaging of any product named in a complaint is a sensible precaution. Each record helps an attorney judge whether you fit a proposed class.
What Did Costco Allegedly Know About the Claims in the Costco Lawsuits?
Plaintiffs allege Costco knew its public promises were broader than what it could verify or deliver, and Costco denies wrongdoing in the settled case. The Oregon complaint points to Costco's own supplier code, sustainability report, and membership brochures as the promises it says Costco could not back up.
In the tariff cases, plaintiffs cite Costco's own statements. CEO Ron Vachris said in March that it was unclear what refunds, if any, Costco would receive, and he promised to return value to members through lower prices and better values.
| Party | Role | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Wholesale Corporation | Issaquah, Washington retailer and the defendant in each consumer case | Denied wrongdoing in the Washington email case and is contesting the others |
| Diamond Pet Foods and Darigold | Kirkland suppliers named in the Oregon complaint, not defendants | No response reported in sources reviewed |
| Orgain | Protein powder brand named in the Orgain suit, not a defendant in the reports reviewed | Has said its products are safe |
Whether Costco knew anything is a question for discovery, and no court has made a finding on it in any pending case.
How Do the Costco Lawsuits Compare to Other Costco Cases?
The Costco lawsuits tracked here are consumer cases, and they differ from a separate Lululemon dispute and from older employee cases against Costco.
| Matter | What It Involves | Relationship to the Costco Lawsuits |
|---|---|---|
| Lululemon v. Costco, Central District of California | A trade dress and patent suit filed in June 2025 over alleged dupes of Lululemon apparel, with Kirkland and other brands named | A business dispute with no consumer class, mostly settled with one men's jacket claim reported open as of May 2026 |
| Employee class actions in California | Two earlier suits over unfair labor practices toward employees, according to Costco's 2025 annual report as summarized by CUNY's Covering Companies | Different plaintiffs and claims, since the Oregon case is the first about Costco's supply chain |
Searches for a Costco lawsuit often mix these matters together, but each has its own court, plaintiffs, and outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Costco lawsuit about?
The Costco lawsuit is not one case but at least ten separate lawsuits against Costco Wholesale Corporation. They cover alleged forced labor sourcing, tariff refunds, labeling claims, membership renewals, contamination, and misleading emails.
Is the Costco lawsuit a class action or an MDL?
The Costco lawsuit is not an MDL, and most of its cases are proposed consumer class actions. They sit in separate courts in Oregon, California, Illinois, and Washington, so no single judge oversees them.
Is there a Costco lawsuit settlement?
Yes, Costco agreed to a $14 million settlement in the Washington email case, and the court approved 313,275 valid claims. No other Costco consumer case has reported a settlement.
How much is the Costco class action lawsuit payout per person?
The Costco class action lawsuit payout per person is estimated at about $30 for the Washington email settlement, before administrative costs. No other case has a payout, and no $250 figure appears in the sources reviewed.
Can I still join a Costco class action lawsuit?
No claims process is open in any Costco case reviewed here, since the Washington email deadline passed on August 24, 2026. A pending case may add a claims process if it settles, so an attorney can say whether you fit a proposed class.
Is the Costco lawsuit the same as the Costco rotisserie chicken lawsuit?
No, the Costco rotisserie chicken lawsuit is only two of the ten cases covered here. Those two cases concern preservatives labeling and salmonella risk, while the others involve different products and claims.
Is the Lululemon vs Costco lawsuit a class action?
No, the Lululemon lawsuit against Costco is a trade dress and patent dispute between companies, not a class action. It began in June 2025 and has mostly settled, according to Bloomberg Law's May 2026 report.