Route App Lawsuit: The Pre-Checked “Shipping Protection” Fee
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The Route app lawsuit in the news is Mertson v. Route App, Inc., filed June 3, 2026 in federal court in the Northern District of New York. It alleges that Route’s checkout widget adds a “Shipping Protection” or “Package Protection” fee through a box that is already ticked. A similar case in Illinois survived Route’s motion to dismiss on May 7, 2026. As of October 2026 there is no settlement, no fund and no claim form.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuit Says Route Did
Route App, Inc. is a software company headquartered in Lehi, Utah. Online stores install its widget, and at checkout a line called “Shipping Protection by Route” or “Route Package Protection” appears on the order.
The complaint alleges that the widget adds “a hidden, pre-selected box or toggle” that is “so tiny and purposely designed to go unnoticed by consumers.” It quotes Route’s own merchant help pages recommending stores leave the box auto-checked, and alleges 98% of merchants do. It also alleges Route keeps approximately half of the fees.
The fee can be unticked. The lawsuit’s point is that shoppers do not see it, or assume it is mandatory. The two named plaintiffs say they paid $2.95 (7OHPLUS, January 17, 2026) and $1.55 (Perfect Bar, September 24, 2024). The claims are unjust enrichment and New York General Business Law §§ 349 and 350. These are allegations; Route has not been found liable.
Case Details
Main case: Mertson v. Route App, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-01172-ECC-ML, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York (some write-ups say Southern), before District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe and Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric. Plaintiffs are represented by KalielGold PLLC. The $5 million in the complaint is the federal jurisdiction threshold, not a damages demand.
Related case: Cantore and Conley v. Route App, Inc., No. 1:25-cv-04677 (N.D. Ill.), filed April 2025. On May 7, 2026 Judge Sara L. Ellis dismissed only a tortious interference claim, without prejudice, and let the Illinois, California and unjust enrichment claims proceed.
Other dockets: Biada v. Route App, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-00651 (D. Utah), filed July 10, 2026 — its subject is not public. In Wolf-Bond v. TA3, Inc., a California case over the same kind of fee, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Route on April 28, 2025. That was not a settlement.
Status: Two Live Class Actions, No Settlement
That means no fund, no administrator, no claim form and no deadline. The full background, including Route’s own position before insurance regulators, is in our September 4, 2026 case report.
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Who Is in the Proposed Class
The complaint proposes a nationwide class of “all consumers” who, within the statute of limitations, paid a Shipping Protection fee “or other similar fee for a service provided by Route,” plus a New York subclass for the state-law claims. No court has certified that class.
How to check: search your order confirmation emails for “Shipping Protection by Route” or “Route Package Protection.” Keep those emails — for a small checkout fee they are likely the only proof of payment. You do not need to sign up anywhere to be part of a class action.
Is There Money?
Route App Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
April 2025 — Illinois Case Filed
Cantore and Conley v. Route App, Inc., No. 1:25-cv-04677, is filed in the Northern District of Illinois over the same widget.
- 2
April 28, 2025 — Route Dropped From California Case
In Wolf-Bond v. TA3, Inc., the plaintiff voluntarily dismisses Route. No settlement and no ruling.
- 3
May 7, 2026 — Illinois Judge Lets Claims Proceed
Judge Sara L. Ellis denies most of Route’s motion to dismiss, finding a reasonable consumer could take an automatically added fee as mandatory.
- 4
June 3, 2026 — New York Class Action Filed
Mertson v. Route App, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-01172, is filed in the Northern District of New York with a nationwide class and a New York subclass.
- 5
July 10, 2026 — Utah Case Filed
Biada v. Route App, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-00651, is filed in the District of Utah. Its subject is not public.
- 6
October 2026 — No Settlement
As of our last docket review on September 4, 2026, no settlement, fund, claim form or deadline had been reported in any of the cases.
Three Things to Watch For
A small fee, a familiar brand and no official claim form are exactly what imposters need:
“Claim your Route refund” pages
There is no Route settlement and no claims portal. A page asking for your card number or bank login to “refund your shipping protection fees” is collecting data, not filing a claim.
Law firm sign-up forms dressed as claim forms
Several pages for this case carry forms. They are law firm intake forms, including for a mass arbitration campaign — not court-approved claim forms. Signing one is a decision to hire that firm, not a filing.
Fake Route “order protection” emails
Shoppers who used Route-enabled stores are used to seeing the Route name in order emails, which makes it easy to copy. A message linking this lawsuit to a “refund” and asking you to log in or pay a fee is not from a court-appointed administrator. Go to the store or the court docket directly.
Route App Lawsuit — Questions People Ask
What is the Route app lawsuit about?
It alleges that Route’s checkout widget adds a “Shipping Protection” or “Package Protection” fee to online orders through a pre-ticked, hard-to-see box, so shoppers pay without choosing to. The New York case is Mertson v. Route App, Inc., No. 3:26-cv-01172.
Is there a Route app settlement or claim form?
No. As of our last docket review on September 4, 2026, there was no settlement, fund, administrator, claim form or deadline in the Route cases. If that changes, class members are notified through a court-approved notice.
Was the Route fee mandatory?
No — it could be unticked. The lawsuit alleges it was presented so that shoppers missed it or thought it was required. On May 7, 2026 a federal judge in Illinois held that a reasonable consumer could read an automatically added fee as mandatory.
How do I know if I paid it?
Search your order confirmation emails for “Shipping Protection by Route” or “Route Package Protection.” Keep any you find.
Do I have to sign up to be included?
No. If a class is certified, members are included automatically unless they opt out. Forms you find online now are law firm intake forms, not claims.
Is the lawsuit in the Southern District of New York?
No. The docket and the complaint say the Northern District of New York, case No. 3:26-cv-01172-ECC-ML.
Does the lawsuit affect a shipping-protection claim for a lost package?
No. If you paid for protection and a parcel went missing, the protection’s own claims process is separate from this lawsuit.
How do I avoid the fee now?
Look for the toggle just above the order total before you pay and switch it off if you do not want it. The complaint says Shopify told merchants that automatically adding optional charges at checkout would be banned starting in February 2025, but check every order anyway.
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.