What Is the Verizon Lawsuit?
The Verizon lawsuit is a label that covers several unrelated proceedings, not one case. The largest is Esposito et al. v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, Docket No. MID-L-6360-23, a nationwide class action in the Superior Court of New Jersey. It ended in a $100 million non-reversionary settlement over an allegedly unfair and undisclosed monthly Administrative Charge on postpaid wireless bills. A second matter is the FCC's location data penalty against Verizon, which reached the U.S. Supreme Court. A third group is the Total Wireless data breach class actions in federal court in New York, which accuse Verizon Value Inc. and its vendor Veriff OU of failing to protect customer identity data.
Why Are People Filing Verizon Lawsuits?
People are filing Verizon lawsuits for three unrelated reasons, not one shared grievance. Customers sued because Verizon allegedly charged a monthly fee that its advertised plan prices did not disclose. Regulators and Verizon fought over whether a location data penalty could be imposed without a jury trial. Total Wireless customers sued after an identity verification vendor was breached and their personal information was exposed. Each group relies on a different legal theory, so a result in one proceeding does not decide the others.
What Injuries Are Included in the Verizon Lawsuit?
The injuries included in the Verizon lawsuit are financial and privacy harms, not physical ones, and they fall into three categories. Customers describe paying an undisclosed charge. Location data was allegedly shared without proper safeguards. Breach victims describe a heightened risk of identity theft. None of the active proceedings alleges a physical or medical injury.
Undisclosed Administrative Charge
A junk fee is a recurring charge that is added to a bill but not included in the advertised price of the service.
The class action alleged that Verizon advertised postpaid plan prices and then added an Administrative Charge. It was later called the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge. The plaintiffs said the charge was not adequately disclosed. Customers said the extra monthly charge raised the real price above the advertised one. Verizon denied the claims and agreed to the settlement described in the case status section.
Location Data Shared Without Proper Safeguards
Location data is information that shows where a mobile phone and its owner are at a given time, collected through the wireless network.
The FCC found that Verizon let third parties reach customer location data without adequate protection. The agency treated that as a violation of the Communications Act. The resulting penalty of about $47 million was imposed on Verizon by the FCC, not awarded to customers. Verizon challenged both its liability and the penalty process in court.
Exposure of Identity Verification Data
Identity theft is the use of another person's personal information, such as a name or identification details, without permission, usually to obtain money or credit.
The Total Wireless complaints allege that customers gave personal information to Veriff during sign-up. They say the data was unencrypted and unredacted when accessed. Plaintiffs describe an increased risk of identity theft and fraud. No complaint on file alleges that a specific customer has already lost money because of the breach.
Who Qualifies for the Verizon Lawsuit?
You may qualify if:
- You received a notice letter from Total Wireless or Veriff about the data exposure, which is how the proposed class in the New York complaints is defined.
- You are a current or former Verizon postpaid customer who wants to know whether a future fee, billing, or privacy class action applies to your account.
You may not qualify if:
- You only want a share of the $100 million administrative charge settlement, because its claim deadline of April 15, 2024 has passed.
- Your complaint is a single billing or service dispute, since Verizon's customer agreement generally routes individual disputes to arbitration or small claims court.
Only a qualified attorney reviewing your account records and customer agreement can confirm whether any Verizon proceeding applies to you.
What Is the Current Status of the Verizon Lawsuit?
The current status of the Verizon lawsuit differs by proceeding, since each runs in its own court on its own timeline. The administrative charge case is settled. The Supreme Court has decided the FCC matter. The data breach actions are early, with no class certified.
Esposito et al. v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless
This nationwide class action covers postpaid customers who paid the Administrative Charge between January 1, 2016 and November 8, 2023. The court granted final approval on April 26, 2024, according to Top Class Actions. A class member appealed on May 4, 2024, and the settlement website later reported the appeals withdrawn, so payments could begin.
| Court | Superior Court of the State of New Jersey |
| Docket Number | MID-L-6360-23 |
| Class Counsel | DeNittis Osefchen Prince, P.C. and Hattis & Lukacs |
| Settlement Status | Final approval April 26, 2024; claim deadline April 15, 2024; closed to new claims |
Verizon Communications v. FCC (Location Data Penalty)
The FCC fined Verizon about $46.9 million in 2024 over customer location data. The Second Circuit upheld the penalty on September 10, 2025. On June 4, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that the FCC's forfeiture process does not violate the Seventh Amendment, and Verizon's fine stands.
| Court | U.S. Supreme Court, on review of the Second Circuit |
| Docket Number | No. 25-567 (Verizon); No. 25-406 (AT&T, consolidated for decision) |
| Decided | June 4, 2026, 8-1, opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts |
| Outcome | Second Circuit judgment affirmed; Justice Clarence Thomas dissented |
Reed, Stockton and McLaughlin v. Veriff OU and Verizon Value Inc. (Total Wireless Data Breach)
Three proposed class actions were filed in January 2026 over a breach at Veriff that exposed Total Wireless customer data. No class has been certified, and no settlement or claim form exists. Total Wireless is separately offering affected customers one year of free identity protection.
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York |
| Case Numbers | 1:26-cv-00465 (Reed); 1:26-cv-00520 (Stockton); 1:26-cv-00566 (McLaughlin) |
| Defendants | Veriff OU and Verizon Value Inc., doing business as Total Wireless |
| Class Status | Complaint stage, not certified |
How Much Is the Verizon Class Action Lawsuit Settlement?
The Verizon class action lawsuit settlement is a $100 million fund. Each account was allocated a minimum of $15 plus $1 for each month of charges, capped at $100.
Those figures were maximums that shrank as claims were filed, and payments are generally reported as much smaller. Some customers reported receiving about $2.37, and one published screenshot showed $5.63. Whether any given customer was paid depends on the claim they filed and the account history on record.
Plaintiffs' lawyers asked for a $33 million fee, according to a February 2024 Reuters column. A watchdog group objected that the firms had engaged in forum shopping. This page did not confirm the final fee the court awarded.
The FCC's roughly $47 million penalty goes to the government, not to customers, so it creates no payout. The Total Wireless data breach actions have no settlement, and no payout amount exists for them.
Verizon Lawsuit Updates
Here are the latest Verizon lawsuit updates, covering new court filings, rulings, and case-count reports as they're confirmed. Litigation in the Total Wireless data breach class actions remain active as of October 2026, with no bellwether trial or settlement completed. The timeline below tracks every confirmed development from the first filing forward.
Verizon Lawsuit Timeline of Events
Settlement Trackers Report No Open Verizon Claims
As of September 30, 2026, the settlement tracker MoneyPilot reported that no Verizon settlement was accepting claims. It described the administrative charge case as closed. This page found no new Verizon class settlement announced since.
Supreme Court Upholds the FCC's Authority to Fine Carriers
The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on June 4, 2026, that the FCC may issue forfeiture orders to AT&T and Verizon without a jury trial. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion, and Justice Clarence Thomas dissented. Verizon's roughly $47 million fine stands.
Reports Describe Three Total Wireless Data Breach Complaints
Top Class Actions reported on March 5, 2026, that three proposed class actions against Veriff OU and Verizon Value Inc. were pending in the Southern District of New York. The complaints plead negligence and name a nationwide class of notified customers.
Reed Complaint Filed Over the Total Wireless Breach
The Reed complaint against Veriff OU and Verizon Value Inc., doing business as Total Wireless, is dated January 19, 2026. Stockton and McLaughlin followed in the same month in the Southern District of New York.
Nationwide Verizon Outage Brings a $20 Account Credit
Verizon offered a $20 account credit after a nationwide outage on January 14, 2026, which it attributed to a software issue. This page found no lawsuit filed over that outage.
Total Wireless Files a Breach Notice With a State Attorney General
Total Wireless filed a data breach notice with a state attorney general on January 9, 2026, according to Top Class Actions. Reports put the number of affected U.S. consumers at about 8,583.
Veriff Tells Total Wireless About the Breach
Total Wireless learned on December 10, 2025, that an unauthorized party had accessed personal information held by Veriff. Reports say the intrusion began around November 18, 2025, after a Veriff employee's credentials were phished.
Second Circuit Upholds Verizon's $46.9 Million FCC Penalty
The Second Circuit decided on September 10, 2025, that the FCC reasonably found Verizon liable over location data. The panel rejected Verizon's Seventh Amendment argument, reasoning that Verizon had waived a jury trial by paying and appealing.
Administrative Charge Settlement Payments Begin Reaching Customers
Payments from the Esposito administrative charge settlement were reported going out from early 2025, according to MoneyPilot, which cited the settlement website. Many customers received far less than $100.
Appeals in the Administrative Charge Case Withdrawn
Top Class Actions reported on October 25, 2024, that the settlement website said appeals in Esposito v. Cellco Partnership were withdrawn. It estimated payments would be distributed in December 2024.
Appeal Filed Against the Administrative Charge Settlement
An appeal of the Esposito final approval order was filed on May 4, 2024. Top Class Actions reported that no claims would be paid until appeals were resolved.
Court Grants Final Approval of the $100 Million Settlement
The New Jersey Superior Court granted final approval of the $100 million Esposito settlement on April 26, 2024. The claim deadline of April 15, 2024 had already passed.
FCC Fines Carriers Nearly $200 Million Over Location Data
In April 2024, the FCC fined several wireless carriers nearly $200 million for sharing customer location data without adequate safeguards. Verizon's share was about $46.9 million, which the Second Circuit later upheld.
Watchdog Objects to a $33 Million Fee Request in the Verizon Surcharge Deal
A Reuters column dated February 26, 2024, reported that Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute objected to a $33 million fee request. It argued the plaintiffs' firms had moved the case from federal court in San Francisco to New Jersey state court.
Opt-Out Deadline Passes in the Administrative Charge Settlement
Class members had until February 20, 2024, to opt out of the Esposito settlement. The objection deadline followed on February 26, 2024, and the fairness hearing was scheduled for March 22, 2024.
How to File a Verizon Lawsuit
To file a Verizon lawsuit, start with the 5 steps below.
- Identify which Verizon proceeding fits your situation: Decide whether your issue involves the closed administrative charge settlement, the Total Wireless data breach, or an individual billing dispute, since each follows different rules.
- Check for a Total Wireless or Veriff notice letter: The proposed class in the New York complaints is defined by receipt of a notice letter, so keep that letter and any identity protection enrollment details.
- Review your Verizon customer agreement: Verizon's arbitration FAQ says disputes generally go to AAA arbitration, with an individual small claims option for claims under $10,000.
- Send written notice before arbitration: Verizon's arbitration FAQ says you must notify Verizon in writing at least 60 days before starting arbitration, using its Notice of Dispute form.
- Watch for a new settlement notice: If a Verizon class action settles in the future, class members are typically notified by mail or email with a claim form and deadline.
Verizon Lawsuit is no longer accepting new claims. The $100 million administrative charge settlement closed to claims on April 15, 2024. The Total Wireless data breach actions have no claim process because no class has been certified and no settlement exists.
What Proof Do You Need for a Verizon Lawsuit Claim?
The proof you need for a Verizon lawsuit claim depends on which proceeding applies. A fee dispute generally rests on billing statements showing the Administrative Charge and the months it was billed. A data breach claim generally rests on the notice letter from Total Wireless or Veriff. Records showing you signed up for service also help.
Keep account numbers, bills, and written correspondence with Verizon support. Verizon's arbitration process requires a written notice, so a dated copy of that form is also useful evidence of when a dispute began.
What Has Verizon Said About the Administrative Charge and Location Data Claims?
Verizon denied wrongdoing in the administrative charge case and agreed to settle, according to press coverage of the settlement. In the location data matter, Verizon argued that the FCC could not penalize it without a jury trial. It lost that argument in the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court. This page found no public response from Verizon Value Inc. to the Total Wireless complaints.
| Party | Role | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless | Defendant in the fee class action | Denied the claims and funded a $100 million settlement |
| Verizon Communications Inc. | Petitioner in the FCC penalty case | Argued the FCC penalty required a jury trial; the Supreme Court disagreed |
| Verizon Value Inc. d/b/a Total Wireless | Defendant in the data breach actions | No public response to the complaints found; offers one year of free identity protection |
| Veriff OU | Identity verification vendor and co-defendant | No public response to the complaints found |
An allegation in a complaint is not a finding. No court has ruled on the merits of the Total Wireless claims.
How Does the Verizon Lawsuit Compare to Related Cases?
The Verizon lawsuit differs from several related matters that share the Verizon name. Each is a separate proceeding with its own parties.
| Matter | What It Involves | Relationship to This Page |
|---|---|---|
| Go Wireless employee commission class action | A $13 million settlement for about 15,000 workers of Go Wireless, which ran roughly 600 Verizon-branded stores. Judge Timothy C. Williams approved it in August 2025 | Verizon was not the defendant; the dispute is over employee commission pay |
| AT&T location data fine | A $57 million FCC penalty the Fifth Circuit had overturned. The Supreme Court reversed that judgment on June 4, 2026 | Decided together with Verizon's case, but a separate carrier and a separate remand |
| Allen v. Verizon Communications, Inc. (eSIM antitrust) | A 2018 proposed class action in New Jersey federal court alleging Verizon and AT&T conspired to lock devices to their networks | Separate antitrust theory; this page did not confirm its current status |
| January 2026 nationwide outage | A software issue that led Verizon to offer a $20 account credit | A customer service remedy; this page found no lawsuit over it |
None of these matters decides the claims in the Total Wireless data breach actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Verizon lawsuit about?
The Verizon lawsuit is about several separate proceedings, led by a $100 million class action over an allegedly undisclosed Administrative Charge. Other proceedings cover an FCC location data penalty and the Total Wireless data breach class actions.
Is the Verizon lawsuit a class action or an MDL?
The Verizon lawsuit includes class actions but is not an MDL. The fee case was a state court class action, and the three Total Wireless complaints are proposed class actions in New York federal court. None has been consolidated into an MDL.
Has the Verizon lawsuit settled?
Yes, the Verizon administrative charge lawsuit settled for $100 million, with final approval on April 26, 2024. The FCC matter is decided, and the Total Wireless data breach actions have not settled.
Can I still file a claim in the Verizon class action settlement?
No, you cannot still file a claim in the Verizon class action settlement, because the claim deadline was April 15, 2024. Courts generally do not reopen a closed claims window.
What is the current status of the Verizon lawsuit?
The current status of the Verizon lawsuit is mixed. The fee settlement is closed. The Supreme Court decided the FCC case on June 4, 2026. The Total Wireless complaints remain early as of October 2026.
Is the Verizon lawsuit the same as the Total Wireless data breach lawsuit?
No, the Verizon lawsuit is not the same as the Total Wireless data breach lawsuit. The breach actions name Verizon Value Inc. and Veriff OU and are separate from the administrative charge class action.