Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Information

1. Why is the Notice being provided?

Judge Beth McGowan of the Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County, authorized the Notice because you have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of a class action lawsuit, Dutcher v. Google LLC, et al., Case No. 20CV366905, and about all of your options before the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement.

The Notice explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, your legal rights, what benefits are provided by the Settlement, who is eligible for them, and how to get them. If the Court approves the Settlement and after objections and appeals are resolved, if any, then the credits or payments agreed to in the Settlement will be conferred.

2. What is this lawsuit about?

The name of the lawsuit is Dutcher v. Google LLC, et al., and it is pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara. The lawsuit claims that YouTube and Google did not follow all of the disclosure requirements of California’s automatic renewal law, which applies to their sales of automatically-renewing subscriptions for YouTube TV. YouTube and Google deny all allegations of wrongdoing.

3. What is a class action?

In a class action, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people with similar claims. Together, all the people with similar claims (except those who exclude themselves) are members of a “Class.” The Court appointed Plaintiff Lance Dutcher as the Class Representative. Please see FAQ 5 to determine whether you are part of the Class.

4. Why is there a Settlement?

The Court has not decided in favor of either party. Instead, both sides have agreed to the Settlement. By agreeing to the Settlement, the parties avoid the costs and uncertainty of a trial, and if the Settlement is approved by the Court, participating class members will receive the benefits described in the Notice. The proposed Settlement does not mean that any law was broken or that Google did anything wrong. Google denies all allegations and is entering into this Settlement to avoid burdensome and costly litigation. The Class Representative and his lawyers think the proposed Settlement is best for everyone who is affected.

Who is Included in the Settlement?

5. How do I know if I am part of the Settlement?

Unless you request to be excluded (see FAQ 10), you are a member of the Settlement Class defined as follows: “all persons in California who, from February 1, 2017, to October 29, 2021, enrolled in and paid for at least one renewal term of a YouTube TV Subscription, purchased via YouTube billing for personal, family, or household purposes, excluding those who enrolled in YouTube TV through iOS-based mobile applications from Apple’s App Store, YouTube TV Subscriptions that were cancelled during a free trial, and YouTube TV subscriptions that were fully refunded by Defendants.”

Any employees of YouTube and Google and the judge presiding over this case (as well as Court staff) are excluded from the Settlement Class.

If you are not sure whether you are in the Settlement Class or have any other questions about the Settlement, you can contact the Settlement Administrator at info@YouTubeTVSettlement.com or write questions to the Settlement Administrator at:

Dutcher v. Google LLC, et al.
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 25191
Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958

Please do not address any questions about the Settlement to Google, the Clerk of the Court, or the Judge.

The Settlement Benefits—What You Get if You Qualify

6. What does the Settlement provide?

Google has agreed to pay $7,500,000.00 to create a “Settlement Fund.” The Settlement Fund will be used to provide cash payments to class members; a Service Award to the named Plaintiff and Class Representative Lance Dutcher as approved by the Court; Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses to Class Counsel as approved by the Court; and the costs of administering the Settlement. The Settlement Fund is non-reversionary.

The Settlement Awards will be distributed to participating class members on a pro rata basis. The Settlement Administrator will issue cash payments in the form of a check or an electronic payment, including ACH Transfer or via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Virtual Prepaid Card sent to your email address. If, prior to distribution, the Settlement Administrator determines that an electronic payment cannot be made, the value of that person’s credit will be returned to the Net Settlement Fund and re-distributed to the Settlement Class.

In no event will the Settlement Fund pass back to Google. If there are any funds remaining in the Net Settlement Fund after all Settlement Awards have been distributed, they will be distributed to a non-profit organization approved by the Court.

7. How much will my payment be?

The amount that you will receive as a check or electronic payment under the Settlement is called your “Settlement Award.” The Settlement Award is calculated by allocating the Net Settlement Fund after deducting any Service Award to the named Plaintiff Dutcher as approved by the Court, the Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses to Class Counsel as approved by the Court, and Settlement Administration Expenses as approved by the Court. The amount remaining will be allocated pro rata across all class members who have not opted out of the Settlement.

It is not possible to know at this point exactly how much your Settlement Award will be, since the amount will depend on factors that are not presently known, including the number of class members who ultimately participate in the Settlement and the amounts of any Service Awards and Class Counsel Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses as approved by the Court. However, the parties estimate that each participating class member will receive approximately $92.26.

Your Rights and Options

You have to decide whether to participate in the Settlement by submitting a Claim Form, to ask to be excluded from the Settlement, or to object to the Settlement. You have to decide this on or before August 30, 2026.

How To Get Benefits—Submitting A Claim Form

8. How can I get a payment from the Settlement?

If you are a Class Member and you want to get a payment, you must complete and submit a valid Claim Form by August 30, 2026. Claim Forms can be submitted online here, if you prefer, you can download a printable Claim Form here and mail it to the Settlement Administrator at the address listed on the Claim Form.

9. What happens if I do nothing at all?

If you do nothing, you won’t get any cash payment from this Settlement.

Even if you do nothing, you won’t be able to start a lawsuit or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants for the claims being resolved by this Settlement, unless you exclude yourself. The full release language can be found in paragraph 11.2 of the Settlement Agreement, available here.

If you have questions about the released claims or what they mean, you can talk to the law firms representing the Class listed in FAQ 14 for free, or you can, at your own expense, talk to your own lawyer.

10. How do I ask to be excluded from the Settlement?

If you do not want to participate in the Settlement, you can exclude yourself from (or “opt out” of) the Settlement by August 30, 2026.

You can opt out by sending a letter by mail to the Settlement Administrator. Your exclusion request must include:

1. your full name;

2. the name of this case: Dutcher v. Google LLC, et al.;

3. a clear statement that you do not want to participate in the Settlement.

The request must be submitted or postmarked no later than August 30, 2026. You must mail your Exclusion Request to:

Dutcher v. Google LLC, et al.
c/o Settlement Administrator
ATTN: Exclusion Requests
P.O. Box 25191
Santa Ana, CA 92799-9958

11. What happens if I exclude myself from the Settlement?

If you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you won’t receive a credit or payment from the Settlement Fund, and you cannot object to the Settlement. By excluding yourself, however, you may be able to sue Google about the claims in this lawsuit.

12. How do I tell the Court if I do not like the Settlement?

If you’re a class member, you can ask the Court to deny approval by submitting an objection. You can’t ask the Court to order a larger payment; the Court can only approve or deny the Settlement. If the Court denies approval, no Settlement benefits will be conferred and the lawsuit will continue. If that is what you want to happen, you must object.

You may object to the Settlement in writing. You may also appear at the Final Approval Hearing at your expense, either in person, remotely, or through an attorney, provided you comply with the procedures described below.

Although class members may appear in person, the judge overseeing this case encourages remote appearances. Class members who wish to appear remotely should contact Class Counsel at least three days before the hearing if possible. Instructions for appearing remotely are provided at https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/online-services/remote-hearings and should be reviewed in advance. Class members may appear remotely using the UDC link for Department 22 or by calling the toll-free conference call number for Department 22.

All written objections, supporting papers and/or notices of intent to appear at the Final Approval Hearing must:

1. clearly identify the case name and number: Dutcher v. Google LLC, et al., Case Number 20CV366905;

2. state your full name;

3. state the full name, address, telephone number, and email address of your attorney (if any);

4. state whether the objection applies only to you or to others as well;

5. state with specificity each objection, including the legal and factual arguments supporting the objection; and

6. be accompanied by a declaration under penalty of perjury or a sworn affidavit attesting that you are a member of the Settlement Class.

Your written objection must be: (a) submitted to the Court either by mailing the objection to the addresses below or by filing in person at the same location.

Your written objection must be filed or postmarked no later than August 30, 2026.

13. What is the difference between objecting and asking to be excluded?

Objecting is telling the Court that you do not want the Settlement to go through for the entire Settlement Class because you do not like something about it. You can object to the Settlement only if you do not exclude yourself. Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Settlement. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object to the Settlement because it no longer affects you.

The Attorneys Representing You

14. Do I have an attorney in this case?

The Court appointed Plaintiff Lance Dutcher as Class Representative and the following attorneys as Class Counsel to represent all members of the Settlement Class:

Neal J. Deckant
Julia K. Venditti
Bursor & Fisher, P.A.
1990 N. California Blvd., Suite 940
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

You may contact Class Counsel by sending an email to info@bursor.com or calling (925) 300-4455.

15. Should I get my own attorney?

You do not need to hire your own attorney because Class Counsel is working on your behalf. But, if you want your own attorney, you will have to pay that attorney. If you hire your own attorney, you can ask him or her to appear in Court for you if you want someone other than Class Counsel to speak for you.

16. What attorneys’ fees and costs are involved?

Class Counsel intend to request up to $2,500,000.00 for reasonable attorneys’ fees and up to $425,000.00 for reimbursement of reasonable, actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the litigation, subject to Court approval. Class Counsel has worked for nearly six years on this case without compensation, and have paid approximately $425,000.00 out of their pockets for the costs of prosecuting this case. The fees and expenses awarded by the Court will be paid out of the Settlement Fund.

Class Counsel also will request the Court to approve Service Award to be paid from the Settlement Fund of up to $15,000.00 to the named Plaintiff and Class Representative Lance Dutcher for his service as a representative on behalf of the Class, including sitting for a deposition, providing written answers and documents in response to Defendants’ discovery questions and requests, and being prepared to attend trial in 2026. All applications for attorneys’ fees and costs and Service Awards are subject to Court approval.

The Court’s Final Approval Hearing

The Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement and any requests for fees and expenses (“Final Approval Hearing”).

17. When and where will the Court decide whether to approve the Settlement?

The Court has scheduled a Final Approval Hearing on October 15, 2026, at the Superior Court of California for the County of Santa Clara, 191 N. First Street, San Jose, California 95113, Department 22. The hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so check this website for updates.

At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Court will also consider the requests by Class Counsel for reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and for a Service Award to the named Plaintiff. If there are objections, the Court will consider them at that time. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement. It is unknown how long these decisions will take.

18. Do I have to attend the meeting?

No. Class Counsel will answer any questions the Court may have. But you are welcome to attend the hearing at your own expense.

Although class members may appear in person, the judge overseeing this case encourages remote appearances. Class members who wish to appear remotely should contact Class Counsel at least three days before the hearing if possible. Instructions for appearing remotely are provided at https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/online-services/remote-hearings and should be reviewed in advance. Class members may appear remotely using the UDC link for Department 22 or by calling the toll-free conference call number for Department 22.

If you send an objection, you do not have to come to Court to talk about it. As long as you submit your written objection on time, to the proper location or address, and it complies with the other requirements set forth above, the Court will consider it. You also may pay your own lawyer to attend the hearing, but it is not necessary.

Getting More Information

19. Are more details available?

This website and the Notice are a summary of the basic terms of the Settlement. For the precise terms and conditions of the Settlement, you are referred to the detailed Settlement Agreement, which is on file with the Clerk of the Court and is also available on the Important Documents page.

The pleadings and other records in this litigation, including the Settlement Agreement, may be examined (a) online on the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara’s Electronic Filing and Service Website at https://portal.scscourt.org; or (b) in person at Records, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 191 N. 1st Street, San Jose, California 95113, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Court holidays and closures.

If you have any questions, you may also call Class Counsel or contact the Settlement Administrator whose contact information is available on the Contact Us page. Refer to the “Dutcher v. Google LLC, et al.” case. Certain case documents, including the Settlement Agreement are available on the Important Documents page.

Please do not call the Court or Defendant’s Counsel for information regarding this matter.