GOLO Lawsuit: Why the Release Supplement Case Was Dismissed, Not Settled
GOLO, LLC — maker of the Release weight-loss supplement and the GOLO Diet program — faced a nationwide class action alleging its “clinically proven” and insulin-resistance marketing claims were false and unsubstantiated. Filed in 2021 by former customer Vincenzza Bubak, the case never reached a settlement. A federal judge dismissed it in January 2024 on preemption grounds, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that dismissal in October 2025. As of August 2026, there is no GOLO settlement fund, no claims process, and no payout for anyone who bought Release.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuit Claimed
Plaintiff Vincenzza Bubak bought GOLO's Release supplement in December 2020 after seeing marketing that the product was “clinically proven” to help with weight loss by targeting insulin resistance — which GOLO's marketing described as the root cause of stubborn weight gain. Bubak alleged the product didn't work as advertised and that she still had to pay return shipping when she sought a refund. Her complaint argued GOLO's “clinically proven” language was misleading because the studies behind it were company-commissioned pilot studies that were not peer-reviewed — arguing a claim can't fairly be called “scientifically and clinically proven” unless it's “widely accepted in its applicable field.” The suit also challenged testimonials tying Release to improved blood sugar and blood pressure, arguing those crossed into implied disease-treatment claims a dietary supplement isn't allowed to make.
Case Details
Bubak v. GOLO, LLC, No. 1:21-cv-00492, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Originally referred to Magistrate Judge Allison Claire, the case was later reassigned to Judge Dale A. Drozd. Bubak was represented by Sommers Schwartz, P.C. and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC. Bubak appealed the dismissal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which affirmed it.
Current Status: Case Closed — No Settlement Was Ever Reached
Is There a Class to Join or a Claim to File?
No. Because the case was dismissed before a class was certified, there was never a class of GOLO customers who could file claims — the dismissal happened at the pleading stage, years before any settlement could be negotiated. If you're looking for a form to fill out for a GOLO payout, it doesn't exist. Separately, GOLO's current Terms of Service require binding arbitration in Wilmington, Delaware under American Arbitration Association rules and include a class-action waiver — meaning any future dispute over Release would likely have to be brought individually, not as a group lawsuit. If you bought Release recently and want your money back, GOLO's own 60-day refund policy (first-time orders only, return authorization required) is the direct route — not a class action.
How Much Money Can I Get From the GOLO Lawsuit?
Timeline: From Purchase to Dismissed Appeal
- 1
December 2020 — Bubak buys Release
Vincenzza Bubak purchases GOLO's Release supplement after seeing marketing claims that it was “clinically proven” to target insulin resistance and support weight loss.
- 2
March 24, 2021 — Class action filed
Bubak sues GOLO, LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleging fraud and false advertising over Release's marketing claims.
- 3
2021–2023 — Motions practice and reassignment
GOLO moves to dismiss the case. Litigation proceeds through motions practice for more than two years; the case is reassigned to Judge Dale A. Drozd by amended order in October 2023.
- 4
January 8, 2024 — Case dismissed
Judge Drozd grants GOLO's motion for reconsideration and its motion to dismiss, ruling Bubak's remaining claims are preempted by federal dietary-supplement labeling law. The district court case closes.
- 5
January 26, 2024 — Bubak appeals
Bubak files a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, paying the $605 filing fee the same day.
- 6
October 9–10, 2025 — Ninth Circuit affirms dismissal
A Ninth Circuit panel upholds the dismissal, per contemporaneous reporting from Bloomberg Law and Law360. The ruling closes the case with no settlement and no class-action recovery for GOLO customers.
Scam Alert: There Is No GOLO Settlement to Claim
Because “GOLO lawsuit” gets searched thousands of times a month, it's a magnet for scams built around a payout that doesn't exist. Three patterns to watch for:
Fake “claim your GOLO settlement payment” sites and forms
Any website, email, or text asking you to enter personal or bank details to “claim your GOLO settlement” is fake — there is no settlement fund, so there's nothing to claim. Never enter your Social Security number, bank account, or card details into a form tied to a “GOLO lawsuit payout.”
Lawsuit “sign-up” calls asking for an upfront fee
Legitimate class-action attorneys work on contingency and never charge you to join a case. If someone calls, texts, or emails claiming they can sign you up for “the new GOLO lawsuit” for a fee, it's a scam — and as of August 2026, there's no active GOLO class action to sign up for in the first place.
Search-hijacking sites pushing other diet products
Some sites that rank for “GOLO lawsuit” use the search traffic to redirect visitors to unrelated weight-loss pills, “free trial” offers, or affiliate links that have nothing to do with the actual litigation. If a page about the lawsuit pushes you toward buying a different supplement, treat it as an ad, not legal information.
GOLO Lawsuit FAQ
Is there a GOLO lawsuit settlement in 2026?
No. The class action against GOLO, LLC (Bubak v. GOLO, LLC) was dismissed by a federal judge in January 2024, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that dismissal in October 2025. There is no settlement fund and no payout.
Can I still file a claim against GOLO?
There's no class-action claims process to file into — the case was dismissed before a class was ever certified. If you have your own dispute with GOLO, its current terms require individual binding arbitration in Wilmington, Delaware, not a lawsuit or class claim.
Why was the GOLO lawsuit dismissed?
The court found Bubak's remaining state-law claims about Release's “clinically proven” and insulin-resistance marketing were preempted by federal dietary-supplement labeling law — meaning federal law, not state consumer-protection law, governs those kinds of claims. The Ninth Circuit agreed on appeal.
What did the lawsuit accuse GOLO of doing?
The complaint alleged GOLO marketed Release as “clinically proven” based on company-commissioned pilot studies that weren't peer-reviewed, and that testimonials linking the supplement to better blood sugar and blood pressure amounted to unauthorized disease-related claims.
Can I get a refund for GOLO Release?
Not through the lawsuit — but GOLO's own refund policy allows first-time orders to be returned within 60 days of receipt for a refund (a $12 fee applies if you skip the required return-authorization step, and shipping isn't refunded). Call 1-800-730-4656 or email support@golo.com to start a return.
Is there a new GOLO class action being investigated?
We found no evidence of a new, active class action against GOLO as of August 2026. Given the Ninth Circuit's October 2025 ruling and GOLO's current arbitration and class-action-waiver clause, a new nationwide class action would face the same preemption argument that ended the last one — plus a contractual hurdle the last case didn't have to clear.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.