The Most Absurd Class Action Settlements That Are Actually Real

A company paid $13 million because a slogan was technically a lie. A tuna company paid $100 million for putting too little tuna in a can. And Subway's lawyers pocketed $525,000 to settle a case where customers received exactly nothing. These are real class action lawsuits. They happened. Courts approved them. Money changed hands.

We dug through the archives so you don't have to. Here are the most delightfully absurd settlements in class action history — ranked by sheer ridiculousness — plus whether there's still money in it for you.

1. Red Bull "Gives You Wings" — $13 Million (2014)

The absurdity: Red Bull's entire brand identity is built on the slogan "Red Bull gives you wings." A class action lawsuit argued that this was false advertising — that Red Bull couldn't actually prove the drink enhanced performance, concentration, or reaction speed any more than a regular cup of coffee. The company had been running ads implying superhuman capabilities since 1997.

Red Bull's response: Rather than fight it, they settled for $13 million. Each claimant could receive $10 cash or $15 in free Red Bull products — no proof of purchase needed. You just had to say you bought Red Bull at some point in the last 12 years.

The verdict on wings: Scientifically unconfirmed. Legally settled. The slogan lives on.

Can you still claim? No — this settlement is closed. But it set a beautiful precedent: if a brand promise sounds too good to be true, there's probably a lawyer already drafting a complaint.

2. Subway Footlong — $525,000 (For Lawyers). $0 (For You). (2016)

The absurdity: In 2013, an Australian teenager posted a photo to Subway's Facebook page showing his "footlong" sub next to a tape measure. It was 11 inches. The post went viral. A class action lawsuit followed. Subway was accused of systematic bread shrinkage — selling 11-inch subs as "footlongs."

The settlement: Subway agreed to actually measure their bread going forward. Lawyers received $525,000. The millions of Americans who purchased short sandwiches received nothing. Zero. Not even a coupon.

The judge's take: A federal appeals court threw out the settlement in 2017, calling it a "selfish deal" that benefited only the lawyers. By then, the damage to everyone's faith in justice had already been done.

Can you still claim? No — and there was nothing to claim anyway. This case is now a textbook example of what's wrong with some class action settlements. The lawyers measured their payday. Customers measured their sandwiches.

3. StarKist Tuna — $100 Million (2019)

The absurdity: StarKist was sued for underfilling their 5-ounce cans of tuna. By how much? Roughly 0.16 to 0.5 ounces per can. That's approximately the weight of three pennies. Over hundreds of millions of cans sold, however, that adds up to a lot of missing tuna — and $100 million in settlement funds.

The breakdown:

• With proof of purchase: up to $25 per household
• Without proof: up to $8 per household
• StarKist's admission: They knew. They did it anyway. For years.

The math: StarKist sold an estimated 700+ million cans during the class period. If each was 0.16 oz short, that's roughly 7 million pounds of tuna that consumers paid for and never received. That's enough to fill approximately 58 semi-trucks with missing tuna.

Can you still claim? No — this settlement has closed. But it taught us all to weigh our canned goods.

4. Volkswagen Dieselgate — $14.7 Billion (2016)

The absurdity: Starting around 2009, Volkswagen installed secret software in approximately 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide — 600,000 in the U.S. — that could detect when the car was being emissions-tested. During testing, the car would run in a special low-emissions mode. On the actual road, it would emit up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxides.

In other words: the car had a cheat mode. Like a student who slips a crib sheet inside their sleeve, except the crib sheet poisoned the air and a company worth $90 billion wrote it.

The settlement: $14.7 billion in the U.S. alone — the largest automotive consumer settlement in history. Owners of affected vehicles could choose between a buyback at pre-scandal value (plus compensation) or a free fix once approved by regulators, plus cash.

Can you still claim? Most phases are closed. If you purchased an affected vehicle and haven't yet received compensation, check with the official settlement administrator for any remaining claims processes.

5. Dannon Activia "Digestive Regularity" — $45 Million (2010)

The absurdity: Dannon spent years marketing Activia yogurt with claims that its "exclusive Bifidus Regularis" probiotic culture was "scientifically proven" to improve digestive health and regulate your system. They charged a premium for it — roughly 30% more than comparable yogurt — and implied doctors endorsed it.

The FTC and a class of consumers disagreed with Dannon's definition of "scientifically proven." The probiotic was real; the specific health claims outpaced the evidence considerably.

The settlement: $45 million total. Class members could claim up to $100 with proof of purchase. The FTC separately required Dannon to stop making unsubstantiated health claims.

Honorable mention: Dannon's DanActive drink (marketed to "help your kids' immune systems") was caught in the same net. A spoon of yogurt. A tsunami of marketing.

Can you still claim? No — this settlement closed long ago. Your gut feelings about yogurt marketing were, apparently, entirely justified.

6. Sketchers Shape-Ups — $40 Million (2012)

The absurdity: Sketchers sold a line of "toning shoes" called Shape-Ups with the promise that wearing them would strengthen your leg muscles, tone your butt and abs, and help you lose weight — just by walking. Their ads featured fitness models, medical-looking charts, and the general energy of a late-night infomercial about to sell you a juicer.

The FTC investigated and found the claims were not supported by credible science. The shoes had curved soles that made you wobble slightly — which Sketchers claimed activated more muscles. What it actually activated was a $40 million settlement.

The settlement: The FTC secured $40 million. Claimants could receive refunds based on purchase price — no workout required, no muscles gained.

Notable endorser: Former NFL quarterback Joe Montana appeared in Sketchers ads. His name was not attached to any legal complaints. His fitness regimen remains his own business.

Can you still claim? No — this is closed. The only exercise these shoes provided was filing the paperwork.

7. Nutella "Part of a Healthy Breakfast" — $3.05 Million (2012)

The absurdity: Nutella ran years of cheerful advertising depicting parents spreading Nutella on toast for their kids as part of a wholesome morning routine. "Nutella — part of a balanced breakfast!" The jar featured hazelnuts and skim milk. Wholesome vibes only.

A California mom read the nutrition label. The first two ingredients: sugar and palm oil. Two tablespoons contain 200 calories and 21 grams of sugar. She filed a class action arguing the "healthy breakfast" marketing was deceptive.

The settlement: $3.05 million. Class members received up to $4 per jar purchased (up to 5 jars without receipts, more with proof). Ferrero also agreed to revise their marketing.

The product is still on shelves. The jar still features nuts prominently. The first ingredient is still sugar.

Can you still claim? No — closed in 2012. But the nutrition information is now more prominently displayed. Progress.

8. Anheuser-Busch "Watered Down Beer" — 2013

The absurdity: Former employees of Anheuser-Busch alleged in 2013 that the company was systematically adding water to Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and other brands after fermentation — reducing the alcohol content below what was labeled on the can.

Anheuser-Busch denied the claims vigorously and called them "completely false." The company pointed to its own testing and regulatory compliance.

The settlement: Multiple class action lawsuits were filed across several states. Consumers with proof of purchase could claim roughly $2–$3 per six-pack.

The meta-level absurdity: The company that markets Budweiser as "The King of Beers" was accused of watering down the crown. Whether the allegations had merit or not, the fact that enough evidence existed to sustain multi-state litigation is its own kind of commentary.

Can you still claim? No — these cases are resolved. Pour one out (with the original alcohol content, presumably).

9. Facebook Beacon — $9.5 Million (2012)

The absurdity: In 2007, Facebook launched a feature called "Beacon." The idea: partner with external websites so that when you made a purchase on those sites — movie tickets, gifts, travel bookings — Facebook would automatically broadcast what you bought to all your friends.

Without your consent. Without an opt-in. Without any warning that your holiday shopping was about to become a News Feed item.

The result: people's surprise birthday purchases, their private shopping habits, their embarrassing DVD rentals — all announced to their entire social network in real time. One widely-reported case involved a woman who discovered her husband had bought her a diamond ring before Christmas. He'd meant it to be a surprise.

The settlement: $9.5 million, with funds directed to a privacy foundation rather than individual claimants. Facebook shut down Beacon in 2009 and CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally apologized.

Sixteen years later: Facebook has settled multiple additional privacy lawsuits for hundreds of millions of dollars. Some lessons take time to fully land.

Can you still claim? No — Beacon is ancient history by internet standards. But if you're an Illinois Facebook user, check the Facebook Biometric Privacy Settlement — that one has more recent money available.

10. HP Printer Ink — Multiple Settlements, Ongoing

The absurdity: HP has been sued multiple times for printer ink practices so aggressive they have their own Wikipedia category. The main allegations:

• Fake "Low Ink" warnings: HP printers flagged cartridges as empty when substantial ink remained, forcing consumers to buy replacements prematurely
• Expiration date lockouts: HP printers refuse to print if a cartridge is "expired" — even if the ink itself is perfectly fine
• Color ink hostage-taking: Some HP printers refused to print in black and white if a color cartridge ran out, requiring you to buy color ink you weren't using
• Third-party cartridge blocks: Firmware updates that disabled compatible third-party cartridges, forcing consumers back to HP-branded ink at premium prices

Settlements: Multiple, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars across different cases and jurisdictions. HP ink litigation has become a recurring event.

Can you still claim? Possibly. HP ink litigation is ongoing in various jurisdictions. Check SettlementRadar's current settlement directory for any active HP claims.

The Bonus Round: Cases Almost Too Absurd to Believe

Honorable mentions that didn't make the main list:

• Monster Energy "Performance Enhancement" Claims (2014): Settled over whether Monster could prove its drink actually improved athletic performance. Monster still claims to be an energy drink. Lawyers claimed their fees were energizing.
• Welch's Fruit Snacks (2015): Settled claims that "made with real fruit" snacks were essentially sugar with fruit coloring. They were.
• Juicy Juice "Brain Development" (2013): Settled after Juicy Juice marketed that added DHA improved brain development in children — a claim that stretched the available science considerably.
• Tinder Age Discrimination ($60.5M — STILL OPEN): Tinder charged users over 29 nearly double the subscription price for the exact same service. Age discrimination in swipe form. Still accepting claims through 2026.

What This All Means (Beyond Entertainment)

Class action settlements exist because individual claims are too small to litigate alone — but collectively, systemic corporate wrongdoing adds up to real money. The Red Bull case wasn't about one person losing $3.99 on a can of energy drink. It was about a company spending millions on misleading advertising at scale.

The problem — as Subway's footlong saga illustrates — is that the system doesn't always serve the people it's meant to protect. Some settlements pay lawyers handsomely and customers nothing. Others, like Volkswagen's $14.7 billion deal, actually change corporate behavior and compensate real harm.

The difference between a good settlement and a bad one usually comes down to this: did the people who were wronged actually get paid?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these settlements real?

Yes. Every settlement on this list was court-approved and involved real money changing hands. The details — settlement amounts, claimant payouts, case outcomes — are drawn from public court records and FTC announcements.

Can I still file claims from these cases?

Most of the historic cases on this list are closed. The Tinder Age Discrimination settlement is still open through 2026. For currently open settlements, browse SettlementRadar's directory.

Why do lawyers get paid when customers get nothing?

In some class actions — particularly where individual damages are very small — courts approve settlements that provide injunctive relief (the company agrees to change its behavior) rather than cash payments. Attorneys still receive fees for achieving that result. Whether that's fair is a debate as old as the practice itself.

How do I find class action settlements I'm eligible for?

Browse a curated directory of open settlements, check the eligibility criteria, and file before the deadline. SettlementRadar tracks 600+ active settlements with deadlines, claim amounts, and filing instructions.

Do I need a lawyer to file a class action claim?

No. The attorneys are already hired — they filed the case on behalf of the entire class. Your job is just to submit a claim form. It usually takes 5–10 minutes and costs nothing.