American Express Antitrust Class Action Settlement
T.K. Sheth Law LLC d/b/a The Law Shed — Illinois-licensed, virtual law firm acting as a third-party claim filer
Attorney Advertising / Not the Official Settlement Website. This page is attorney advertising by T.K. Sheth Law LLC d/b/a The Law Shed. It is not the official settlement website, is not the Court-approved notice, and is not operated by the Court, American Express, Class Counsel, or the Settlement Administrator. Class members may file directly with the Settlement Administrator for free through the official settlement process at www.amexantitrust.com.
Now Accepting Client Intakes
Quick Eligibility Check
You may be eligible to file a claim if all of these are true:
- You are a person, not a business or company.
- Your eligible Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit or charge card account had a billing address in Illinois during some or all of January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022.
- The card did not offer rewards and did not charge an annual fee.
- You, or an authorized user, used that card for at least one in-person purchase at a Qualifying Merchant in Illinois during the covered period.
- You did not have an American Express credit or charge card during the covered period, including as an authorized user.
- You did not previously exclude yourself from the certified classes.
You may not be eligible if your purchases were only online, only by telephone, or based only on excluded purchases such as certain flat-copay pharmacy purchases.
This is only a short summary. The full eligibility rules, exclusions, qualifying merchant list, and official settlement documents control. You may file directly for free through the official settlement website at www.amexantitrust.com.
Think you qualify? Start your claim now.
Internal intake cutoff: May 17, 2026
About the Program
AMEX ANTITRUST SETTLEMENT — $17.5 Million Class Action Settlement
Case: Moskowitz v. American Express Co., Case No. 1:19-cv-00566-NGG-JRC (E.D.N.Y.)
Overview
If you are a person whose eligible Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account had a billing address in Illinois during all or part of January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022, and you used that eligible card for at least one in-person purchase at a Qualifying Merchant in Illinois, you may be eligible to file a claim for payment from a class action settlement.
The lawsuit alleged that American Express's merchant agreements included "anti-steering" rules that prohibited merchants from encouraging customers to pay with lower-fee payment cards. Plaintiffs claimed these rules caused merchants to raise prices for all customers — including customers who did not use an Amex card — to cover the higher Amex processing fees. Amex denies wrongdoing.
The case proceeded to trial, and the jury returned a verdict before the parties reached the proposed settlement. The jury found that Amex violated Illinois law, but not the laws of the other states with certified classes. The jury also found that only the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, and not the Illinois debit-card class, had been damaged. Class members in the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class are now able to submit claims to get money.
The broader settlement includes both debit-card classes and non-rewards credit-card classes. However, the proposed Plan of Distribution allocates the Net Settlement Fund to eligible members of the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class who submit timely and valid claims.
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and the 38 Qualifying Merchants are not accused of any wrongdoing.
Potential Recovery
- Settlement Fund: $17.5 million
- Payments are expected to be distributed on an equal per-capita basis to each eligible claimant with a timely and valid claim.
The Net Settlement Fund is the $17.5 million Settlement Fund less Court-approved attorneys' fees, litigation expenses, notice and administration costs, service awards, taxes, and any other Court-approved deductions. Individual payment amounts are not yet known and will depend on the number of timely and valid claims and Court-approved deductions.
Filing Deadline
Official Claim Deadline: May 19, 2026. Claim forms must be submitted online or mailed/postmarked by this date.
The Law Shed Internal Intake Cutoff: May 17, 2026. This internal cutoff is intended to allow attorney review before the official claim deadline.
Objection Deadline: April 29, 2026. This deadline has passed. The opt-out/exclusion deadline has also passed.
Final Approval Hearing: June 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. The Court has scheduled a Final Approval Hearing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The date or time may change, so class members should check the official settlement website for updates.
Important Timing Note: Payments will be made only if the Court grants final approval to the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved.
Who Is Eligible?
Only the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class is eligible to submit a claim for payment. You must be able to attest under penalty of perjury that all of the following are true:
- You are a natural person (not a business or entity).
- Your eligible card account billing address was in Illinois during all or some of the period January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022.
- You had a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account that did not offer credit card rewards and did not charge an annual fee.
- You, or an authorized user, used that eligible credit or charge card account to make at least one in-person purchase at a Qualifying Merchant in Illinois during January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022.
- The purchase was not online and was not by telephone.
- You did not have an American Express credit or charge card at any time during January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022 — including any Amex co-branded card — and you were not an authorized user on an Amex card during that period.
- The claim is not based solely on excluded purchases, such as card-not-present purchases or purchases of prescription drugs or other medical services from a pharmacy where the purchaser only paid a flat insurance copay.
- You did not previously exclude yourself from the certified classes.
The 38 Qualifying Merchants
This table is provided as a convenience. The official settlement notice and Court-approved settlement documents control.
| Merchant | Retail Store, Brand, or Banner |
|---|---|
| Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. | Academy Sports + Outdoors |
| Advance Auto Parts, Inc. | Advance Auto Parts |
| Albertsons Companies, Inc. | Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Shaw's, Star Market, United Supermarkets, Market Street, Haggen, Kings Food Markets, Balducci's Food Lovers Market |
| American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | American Eagle Outfitters, Aerie, Todd Snyder New York |
| Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. | Bed Bath & Beyond, buybuy BABY, Harmon, Harmon Face Values, Face Values, Harmon Health and Beauty, Decorist |
| Best Buy Co., Inc. | Best Buy, Best Buy Business, Best Buy Express, Best Buy Health, CST, Geek Squad, GreatCall, Lively, Magnolia, Pacific Kitchen and Home |
| Big Lots, Inc. | Big Lots |
| BI-LO, LLC | BI-LO |
| BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. | BJ's Wholesale Club |
| Burlington Stores, Inc. | Burlington Stores, Baby Depot, Burlington Coat Factory, Cohoes Fashions, MJM Designer Shoes |
| Camping World Holdings, Inc. | Camping World, Good Sam Club |
| Circle K Stores, Inc. | Circle K |
| CVS Health Corporation | CVS Pharmacy |
| Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. | Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Field & Stream, GameChanger |
| Foot Locker, Inc. | Foot Locker |
| GameStop Corp. | GameStop |
| The Gap, Inc. | Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, Janie and Jack |
| H&M Hennes & Mauritz Ab | H&M, COS, H&M Home, "& Other Stories" |
| The Home Depot, Inc. | Home Depot |
| Hy-Vee, Inc. | Hy-Vee |
| Ikea, Inc. | Ikea |
| Kohl's Corporation | Kohl's |
| The Kroger Co. | Kroger |
| Lowe's Companies, Inc. | Lowe's |
| Meijer, Inc. | Meijer |
| Michaels Stores, Inc. | Michaels |
| Publix Super Markets, Inc. | Publix Super Markets |
| Rite Aid Corporation | Rite Aid |
| Ross Stores, Inc. | Ross Dress for Less |
| Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. | Sprouts Farmers Market |
| Target Corporation | Target |
| The TJX Companies, Inc. | T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods |
| Tractor Supply Company | Tractor Supply Company |
| Ulta Beauty, Inc. | Ulta Beauty, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance |
| United Natural Foods, Inc. | SuperValu |
| Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. | Walgreens |
| Walmart Inc. | Walmart, Sam's Club |
| Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, Mark and Graham |
How Do I Know If I'm Affected?
If your eligible card account billing address was in Illinois during all or part of January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022, and you used a qualifying non-rewards, no-annual-fee Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account for at least one in-person purchase at a Qualifying Merchant in Illinois, you may be eligible to file a claim.
If you held an Amex card — including any Amex co-branded card — or were an authorized user on an Amex card at any point during January 29, 2016 through June 1, 2022: you are not eligible to submit a claim for payment, regardless of how often you used the Amex card or where you were located.
If all of your purchases at Qualifying Merchants were made online or by telephone: you are not eligible. The Claim Form requires at least one in-person purchase in Illinois using an eligible credit or charge card account.
If your only potentially qualifying purchases were purchases of prescription drugs or other medical services from a pharmacy where you paid only a flat insurance copay: those purchases are excluded.
If you received a notice: Records indicate you may be a Settlement Class Member, but receiving a notice does not automatically mean you can receive money. Only eligible members of the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class who submit timely and valid claims may receive payment.
If you did not receive a notice: You may still file a claim if you meet the eligibility requirements. No documentation is required with the initial claim, but the Settlement Administrator may request verification during claim review.
Client Intake Process
Step 1: Call or complete the online intake form (button below).
Step 2: Complete and submit the Engagement Agreement and Designated Agent Agreement (button below).
Step 3: Our office reviews the submission, including eligibility and conflicts. Representation begins only if the firm signs and accepts the Engagement Agreement. If the firm cannot accept the engagement, the firm will notify the applicant.
For questions, please contact the office at 312-219-2447 or Attorney Sheth at 847-529-8279 (cell).
Attorney Advertising Disclosures
This communication is provided by T.K. Sheth Law LLC d/b/a The Law Shed for informational purposes regarding the American Express Antitrust Class Action Settlement. This is an advertisement for legal services. Tanvi K. Sheth is the attorney responsible for the content of this page.
- No Obligation to Use a Third-Party Filer. Class members are not required to retain counsel and may file claims directly with the Settlement Administrator at no cost. Free assistance is available from court-appointed Class Counsel and the Settlement Administrator at www.amexantitrust.com.
- Firm Identification. T.K. Sheth Law LLC d/b/a The Law Shed is an Illinois-licensed law firm. All services described herein are overseen by Tanvi K. Sheth, Principal Attorney.
- Scope & Jurisdiction. T.K. Sheth Law LLC d/b/a The Law Shed is licensed to practice law in Illinois. Our practice is limited to Illinois law, federal law, and matters before federal tribunals where the firm is admitted. For matters requiring practice in other state jurisdictions, the firm associates with locally licensed counsel as required.
- No Specialist Certification. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Attorneys at the firm are not certified as specialists in any particular field of law.
- No Guarantee of Outcome. While the firm will use reasonable efforts to pursue any claim it agrees to file, it cannot and does not guarantee any specific outcome, eligibility determination, payment timing, or recovery amount. Eligibility and payment amounts are determined solely by the Settlement Administrator and the Court. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
- Fee Disclosure. Representation in this matter is on a 30% contingency fee basis. No attorney fee is owed if there is no recovery. Complete fee terms are set forth in the written Engagement Agreement.
- No Attorney-Client Relationship Without Written Engagement. No attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this page, by submitting an intake form, or by communicating with the firm. An attorney-client relationship is formed only if the firm signs and accepts a written Engagement Agreement. The firm treats prospective-client information in accordance with applicable professional-conduct rules, but attorney-client privilege may not attach unless and until an attorney-client relationship is formed.
- Time Limits. Settlement deadlines may severely restrict the time available to file a claim or pursue a legal right. Delay may result in loss of rights. Refer to the official Settlement website for governing dates.
- Choice of Attorney. The selection of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertising. You are encouraged to consult independent counsel of your choice with respect to any aspect of representation.
- Privacy. The firm does not sell your information or share it with third parties for marketing purposes. In the ordinary course of providing legal services and operating its practice, the firm may disclose information to service providers and vendors, including document management, intake, scheduling, communications, payment, and information-technology providers; to settlement administrators and courts as required to pursue your claim; to the firm's agents and professional advisors retained in connection with your matter; and to legal or regulatory authorities as required by law.
Third-Party Sharing Disclaimer
Third parties may share this informational attorney advertisement, but no third party is authorized to alter it, guarantee eligibility or payment, provide legal advice, or state that The Law Shed is affiliated with the Court, American Express, Class Counsel, or the Settlement Administrator. Unless expressly disclosed in writing, third parties sharing this information do not receive compensation from The Law Shed for recommending legal services.
© 2026 T.K. Sheth Law LLC d/b/a The Law Shed. This is an advertisement for legal services.
Responsible Attorney: Tanvi K. Sheth, Principal Attorney
Office/Mailing Address: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60604
Office: 312-219-2447 | Cell: 847-529-8279 | Email: hi@thelawshed.com | Web: www.thelawshed.com