How to claim the Bigelow Tea settlement (Up to $20) before Feb 8, 2027

After a jury found in April 2025 that Bigelow's "Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned" label on certain teas was false and awarded the class about $2.36 million, Bigelow appealed and the two sides agreed to settle. Bigelow continues to deny the allegations.

The case is Banks, et al. v. R.C. Bigelow, Inc., et al. (No. 2:20-cv-06208-SVW-RAO) in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

A court-appointed administrator runs the claim process and sends the payments. SettleClub is not affiliated with the administrator or with Bigelow Tea.

Anyone who bought an 18 or 20 count box of one of nine Bigelow teas carrying that label at a retail store in California between October 17, 2017 and July 31, 2023: Earl Grey, Green Tea, Constant Comment, Green Lemon Tea, Vanilla Chai, English Tea Time, Spiced Chai, French Vanilla or Vanilla Caramel.

The class period is Oct 17, 2017 to Jul 31, 2023. If your purchase, account or visit falls outside those dates, you are not part of this settlement even if everything else fits.

The notice lists up to $10 without receipts, up to $20 with per person.

The settlement fund is split among everyone who files a valid claim, after attorneys' fees, administration costs and any service awards approved by the court, so the final amount depends on how many people file.

No receipt is needed for up to $10; with a receipt or similar proof of purchase the cap is $20. The cap is per household. Payments scale up or down depending on total claims against the $2,548,187 set aside for the class, to a maximum of $20 without proof or $40 with it.

You sign the claim form under penalty of perjury, so only file if you genuinely fit the class definition above. That is the whole requirement.

Submit the claim form online or mail it postmarked by February 8, 2027. The exclusion and objection deadline is January 7, 2027. The final approval hearing is May 17, 2027 at 1:30 p.m. PT, and payment is expected about 45 days after final approval.

The deadline is Feb 8, 2027. Filing takes a few minutes online. Keep the confirmation number the administrator gives you; it is the only proof you filed.

The court holds its final approval hearing on May 17, 2027. Payments go out after the judge approves the settlement and any appeals are resolved, which typically takes a few months.

Track this claim in SettleClub and you will get a reminder before the deadline and a nudge when payments start going out.