Estimated PayoutTwo $5 Vouchers ($10 total)store credit on fanatics.com only; not cash
Proof RequiredYesClaimID and PIN from your email notice
What Is the Fanatics Handling Fee Class Action About?
Did you order a sports jersey, hat, or other merchandise from a Fanatics-operated site between
May 2018 and March 2026 and notice a "handling fee" tacked on at checkout even though the page
promised "Free Shipping"? You may be entitled to two $5 vouchers under a class action settlement that
resolves allegations that Fanatics charged customers shipping costs under a different label.
The lawsuit, captioned Cavanaugh v. Fanatics, LLC, Case No. 2026-001293-CA-01, is pending in
the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, before the
Honorable Thomas J. Rebull. The plaintiff alleged that Fanatics falsely advertised "Free Shipping" or
flat-rate low-cost shipping on its e-commerce sites while charging a separate handling fee on the
same orders.
The plaintiff's theory was straightforward: a "Free Shipping" promise is misleading if customers are
paying for shipping under a different label. Florida consumer protection law, like consumer protection
statutes in many states, treats the substance of a charge as more important than its label. Fanatics
denies any wrongdoing and is settling without admitting liability. The court has not decided who is
correct on the merits.
Why "Free Shipping" Plus a Handling Fee Triggers Consumer Protection Scrutiny
"Free Shipping" is one of the most powerful conversion levers in e-commerce. Multiple consumer studies
have shown that the explicit "Free Shipping" label, more than the actual shipping price, drives
checkout conversion. State consumer protection statutes, including Florida's Deceptive and Unfair
Trade Practices Act, define unfair and deceptive practices broadly enough to cover situations where
the headline price representation conflicts with the actual all-in cost the customer pays.
The handling-fee theory has now been the basis of multiple e-commerce class actions. Plaintiffs argue
that splitting what is functionally a shipping cost across two line items (one labeled "Free
Shipping," the other labeled "handling fee") creates the impression that shipping is free when it is
not. Defendants generally argue that handling fees cover packaging, fulfillment labor, and other
non-shipping costs. The Cavanaugh case settles without resolving that legal question.
Who Is Included in the Settlement?
The Settlement Class is defined as all persons in the United States who ordered merchandise through
any of the Fanatics Websites and were assessed and paid a handling fee at any time between May 6,
2018 and March 30, 2026.
Three things have to be true for an order to qualify:
• The order was placed while the customer was in the United States.
• The order was placed through one of the Fanatics Websites (the official list is published on
the Settlement Website).
• The order was assessed and the customer paid a handling fee, distinct from any shipping
charge.
The class is defined by the handling fee, not by the order total or product category. Anyone who
ordered jerseys, hats, autographed memorabilia, fan gear, footwear, or other Fanatics merchandise
during the class period and saw a handling fee on the order confirmation is likely a class member.
Is This Settlement Only for NFL Shop Customers?
No, and this is a common misconception worth addressing. Fanatics operates dozens of sports e-commerce
sites under different brand names. The Settlement Class covers handling-fee purchases on any of those
sites during the class period. Major Fanatics-operated networks include:
• NFL Shop, the official online store of the National Football League
• NBA Store, the official online store of the National Basketball Association
• MLB Shop, the official online store of Major League Baseball
• NHL Shop, the official online store of the National Hockey League
• FansEdge, the multi-league sports merchandise retailer
• Official online stores for individual NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, and college athletics programs
• Other Fanatics-operated retail properties, with the official complete list available at the
Settlement Website
If you bought a sports jersey, hat, jacket, or any other merchandise online through any
Fanatics-operated property during the class period and paid a handling fee, you are likely in the
class regardless of which league or team brand you saw at checkout. Fanatics, LLC, the parent company,
is the defendant, and the release covers handling fees charged on any of its operated sites.
What Benefits Does the Fanatics Settlement Provide?
The Fanatics settlement does not pay cash. Eligible class members who file a valid claim form receive
two vouchers, each good for $5 off a single purchase on fanatics.com. Total benefit per class member
is $10 in fanatics.com store credit.
Important practical details about the vouchers:
• Each voucher is good for a $5 discount on a single purchase with no minimum order requirement.
A class member could in theory use one voucher to buy a $5 item with no out-of-pocket merchandise
cost (though shipping or handling fees may still apply).
• The two vouchers cannot be combined on the same purchase. Class members must use them on two
separate orders.
• Each voucher can only be redeemed once.
• Vouchers are not transferable. A class member cannot give them to a friend or sell them.
• Vouchers are not redeemable for cash and have no cash value.
• Vouchers expire 12 months after issuance. Class members must use them within a year.
• Vouchers can be combined with other Fanatics.com promotions or discounts that do not require a
code, such as automatic site-wide sales.
For a customer who shops Fanatics regularly, $10 in store credit is real value. For a customer who
rarely shops sports merchandise online, the practical payout may approach zero by the time the
12-month expiration window arrives.
How to File a Fanatics Settlement Claim
You can submit your claim in the following ways:
• Online: The fastest option is to file at the official settlement website,
HandlingFeeSettlement.com.
• By mail: You may download a Claim Form from the Settlement Website and mail the
completed form to the Settlement Administrator at the address listed in the official notice.
Online claim forms must be submitted by August 27, 2026. Mailed claim forms must be postmarked no
later than August 27, 2026.
To file a Claim, you will need the ClaimID and PIN that the Settlement Administrator sent in
your email notice. The ClaimID is listed at the top of the email notice. The Claim Form must
be fully completed, signed, and submitted online or postmarked by August 27, 2026 to be valid.
The Settlement Administrator may research and verify each Claim Form. If you did not receive
an email notice from the Settlement Administrator but you believe you ordered from a Fanatics
Website and paid a handling fee during the class period, contact the Settlement Administrator
through the official Settlement Website to confirm your class membership and request your
ClaimID and PIN.
Key Deadlines
• Opt out of the settlement by: August 27, 2026
• Object to the settlement by: August 27, 2026
• Submit a claim form by: August 27, 2026
• Final approval hearing: September 16, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., before Judge Thomas J. Rebull at the
Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, Miami, Florida
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you do nothing, you remain in the class and will be bound by the settlement if the court approves
it, but you will not receive any vouchers. You will also give up your right to sue or continue to sue
Fanatics for any claims relating to handling fees charged during the class period. If you want the
two $5 vouchers, you must submit a valid, timely claim form.
Opting Out or Objecting
If you do not want to be part of the settlement, you can opt out by mailing a written Request for
Exclusion to the Settlement Administrator postmarked no later than August 27, 2026. Opting out means
you will not receive any vouchers, but you keep the right to sue Fanatics on your own over the same
issues.
If you do not opt out, you may object to the settlement by writing to the court and serving the
Settlement Administrator by August 27, 2026. You may also ask the court for permission to speak about
your objection at the final approval hearing. Objections must include your name, your reasons for
objecting, details of any qualifying purchases, the name and address of any attorney appearing for
you, a list of class action settlements you have objected to in the last five years, and your
personal signature.
Attorneys and Service Awards
The court appointed Edwin E. Elliott of Shamis & Gentile, P.A.; Scott Edelsberg of Edelsberg Law,
P.A.; and Jeffrey D. Kaliel of KalielGold PLLC as Class Counsel. You will not be charged for their
services. Class Counsel will ask the court to approve a combined award of $1,450,000 in attorneys'
fees and litigation costs. Class Counsel will also request a $5,000 service award for the named
plaintiff. Class Counsel's fees, costs, and the service award, as well as notice and claims
administration expenses, will be paid separately from any voucher benefits distributed to the class
and will not reduce the value of the vouchers.
How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?
Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:
• Official Settlement Website: HandlingFeeSettlement.com
• Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida,
Cavanaugh v. Fanatics, LLC, Case No. 2026-001293-CA-01, Hon. Thomas J. Rebull presiding
Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
Please submit only truthful information on any claim form. False or fraudulent claims can be rejected
and may lead to penalties. If you are not sure whether you qualify, review the official notice or
contact the Settlement Administrator. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site and is not the
Settlement Administrator or a law firm, and we do not process or decide claims.