Grubhub Lawsuit & Settlement: FTC Refund Checks, Driver Payouts and What Is Still Open
Questions about this case?
AI Legal Assistant · free · answers in seconds · general information, not legal advice
If a Grubhub-related check or PayPal payment just reached you, it is most likely real. On August 12, 2026 the FTC announced it is sending 640,038 payments totaling more than $23.8 million to Grubhub drivers and diners — no claim form. Separately, a federal judge granted final approval on July 30, 2026 to a $24.75 million settlement for California delivery drivers. Every Grubhub settlement claim deadline we found has already passed.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Four Grubhub Cases, Four Different Groups
“The Grubhub lawsuit” is really several cases. Each covers different people, and each has its own money.
FTC and Illinois (drivers and diners). On December 17, 2024 the Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois Attorney General took action against Grubhub. Their complaint alleged that Grubhub hid delivery costs in “service fees” and “small order fees”; advertised driver pay of “up to $40/hour” in New York when median pay was about $10 an hour (and “up to $26/hour” in Chicago against a median of about $11); listed roughly 325,000 restaurants without their permission; and blocked diner accounts holding large gift-card balances without warning.
California drivers (Lawson v. Grubhub). Filed in 2015, it alleged Grubhub violated California labor law by classifying its delivery drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.
California customers (Wang v. Grubhub). It alleged Grubhub misleadingly represented its delivery fees, service fees, California Drivers Benefits Fees and menu prices on California orders.
Restaurants (Lynn Scott LLC v. Grubhub). It alleged Grubhub put businesses' names and logos on its platforms — Seamless, AllMenus, MenuPages and others — without a contract.
Case Details
FTC and Illinois v. Grubhub Inc., No. 1:24-cv-12923, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The stipulated order was entered on December 31, 2024.
Lawson v. Grubhub, No. 3:15-cv-05128, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. Final approval was granted July 30, 2026. Official site: GrubhubCalSettlement.com.
Wang et al. v. Grubhub, Inc., No. 23STCV24118, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. The final approval hearing was set for April 29, 2026.
Lynn Scott LLC v. Grubhub Inc., No. 1:20-cv-06334, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The judge granted final approval in April 2026.
Mintz v. Grubhub Holdings Inc., No. 1:26-cv-00588, Northern District of Illinois — a data-breach class action filed January 19, 2026 and voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on March 6, 2026.
Status as of September 30, 2026: Money Moving, Claims Closed
California drivers — approved. The $24.75 million settlement won final approval on July 30, 2026. Only drivers who filed a claim by June 18, 2026 are paid. As of September 30, 2026 we could not confirm from the docket whether an appeal was filed or whether checks have gone out.
California customers — claims closed May 12, 2026. A one-time $10 Grubhub credit for people who filed.
Restaurants — approved, claims closed March 4, 2026.
Data breach — no active federal case we could find. No settlement, no fund, no claim form. See our open class action settlements for cases still taking claims.
Follow this case
There's no claim deadline yet. We'll email you if a settlement opens a claim period.
Which Grubhub Settlement Were You In?
Diners and drivers (FTC). Payments went to drivers the FTC says were misled about earnings and to diners blocked from their accounts and gift cards. Recipients did not apply. Questions go to the refund administrator, Analytics Consulting LLC, at 1-888-446-4992.
California drivers (Lawson). Anyone who used Grubhub as an independent contractor and accepted or completed at least one delivery in California between December 3, 2014 and March 13, 2026 — about 60,000 drivers. You had to submit a claim by June 18, 2026. Drivers who did not are not paid but are still bound by the release of claims.
California customers (Wang). Anyone who ordered and paid for food on Grubhub or Seamless for delivery to a California address between January 24, 2019 and January 12, 2026, and filed a claim by May 12, 2026.
Restaurants (Lynn Scott). Businesses whose names or logos appeared on the Grubhub platform without a contract, starting January 1, 2019, that filed by March 4, 2026.
How Much Each Grubhub Settlement Pays
California drivers: the $24.75 million fund is reduced by attorneys' fees (the court awarded about $6.18 million, not the $8.25 million requested), a $2 million PAGA allocation and costs. The rest is split among claimants in proportion to miles driven, with a minimum of $25. High-mileage drivers get more than the minimum; we found no published average.
California customers: a $10 Grubhub credit, not cash, reduced proportionally if claims exceed the $5 million settlement.
Restaurants: $50 up front, then a pro-rata share based on how long the business was listed without a contract, from a $7.15 million fund.
Data breach: no settlement, no fund, no claim form. For how breach settlements usually divide money, see the data breach settlement calculator.
Grubhub Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
2015 — California Driver Case Filed
Lawson v. Grubhub (No. 3:15-cv-05128) challenges driver classification. A 2018 bench trial goes Grubhub's way; the Ninth Circuit later sends the case back.
- 2
December 17, 2024 — FTC and Illinois Sue
The FTC and the Illinois Attorney General file their complaint. The stipulated order, entered December 31, 2024, sets a $140 million judgment, partially suspended; Grubhub must pay $25 million.
- 3
January 2026 — Data Incident and a Short-Lived Suit
Grubhub says unauthorized individuals downloaded data from certain systems. Mintz v. Grubhub Holdings is filed January 19 and voluntarily dismissed March 6, 2026.
- 4
Spring 2026 — Restaurant and Customer Deals
Restaurant claims close March 4, 2026, and the $7.15 million settlement is approved in April. The California customer claim window closes May 12, 2026.
- 5
July 30, 2026 — Driver Settlement Approved
Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley grants final approval of the $24.75 million Lawson settlement and cuts the fee award to about $6.18 million.
- 6
August 12, 2026 — FTC Refunds Go Out
The FTC announces 640,038 payments totaling more than $23.8 million to drivers and diners. Checks must be cashed within 90 days.
Three Grubhub Settlement Scams
Real Grubhub money is moving right now, which is exactly when fakes look most believable:
“Pay a small fee to release your Grubhub refund”
The FTC says it never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a payment. A caller or text asking for a processing fee, gift card or bank login is not the refund administrator.
PayPal or email links that ask for your Grubhub login
Some FTC refunds really did arrive through PayPal, so fakes copy them. Open PayPal directly instead of clicking. No refund needs your Grubhub password — and the January 2026 lawsuit alleged names, emails and phone numbers were taken, enough to make a fake notice look personal.
“Grubhub class action settlement 2026 — file your claim now”
Every Grubhub claim window we found closed between March 4 and June 18, 2026, and the FTC refunds needed no claim. A page still “accepting claims” that asks for your Social Security number is collecting data.
Grubhub Settlement — Questions People Are Asking
I got a Grubhub refund check or PayPal payment from the FTC. Is it real?
Very likely. The FTC announced 640,038 payments on August 12, 2026. Cash a check within 90 days; PayPal payments had to be accepted within 30 days. To verify, call Analytics Consulting LLC at 1-888-446-4992 or use the FTC's Grubhub refund page — not a number printed in an email.
Why did the FTC sue Grubhub?
The December 2024 complaint alleged hidden delivery fees, inflated driver pay ads, restaurant listings without consent and locked diner accounts. The order requires Grubhub to show the full cost of delivery, advertise driver pay honestly and list restaurants only with their consent.
Can I still file a Grubhub settlement claim?
No. Restaurant claims closed March 4, 2026, California customer claims May 12, 2026 and California driver claims June 18, 2026. The FTC refunds never had a claim form. Missing a deadline means no payment, and class members who did not opt out stay bound by the settlement.
I drove for Grubhub in California. When do I get paid?
Only if you filed a claim by June 18, 2026. The settlement site says initial payments go out about 30 days after the settlement becomes final — after final approval and any appeals — and that objections or appeals can delay payment by more than a year. The judge approved the deal on July 30, 2026. Ask the administrator at (833) 386-6491. Checks expire 180 days after they are issued.
Is there a Grubhub data breach lawsuit?
In January 2026 Grubhub said unauthorized individuals downloaded data from certain systems, and that financial information and order history were not affected. Mintz v. Grubhub Holdings was filed January 19, 2026 and dismissed without prejudice at the plaintiff's request on March 6, 2026. As of September 30, 2026 there is no data-breach settlement and no claim form.
Grubhub listed my restaurant without permission. What now?
The Lynn Scott settlement ($7.15 million) covered that, but its claim deadline was March 4, 2026 and the judge approved it in April 2026. Going forward, the FTC order requires Grubhub to list restaurants only with their consent.
Is there a Grubhub settlement for New York City delivery workers?
We found none as of September 30, 2026. The city's January 30, 2026 $5 million settlement named Uber Eats, Fantuan and HungryPanda, not Grubhub. The September 2026 city deal is with DoorDash only — see our DoorDash NYC report and the DoorDash settlement tracker.
Are other delivery apps being sued over fees?
Yes. A July 2026 class action accuses Uber Eats of charging a “priority” fee for a service it did not provide — see our Uber Eats priority fee lawsuit page. It is a separate case with no settlement.
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.
Related Consumer Brand Lawsuits
DoorDash Settlement Tracker
NY, Illinois and NYC Dasher settlements — which checks are real
Uber Eats Priority Fee Lawsuit
The 2026 class action over the “priority” delivery upcharge
Open Class Action Settlements
Settlements still accepting claims, sorted by deadline
Settlement Payout Calculator
Estimate a per-person share from fund size and claim rates