In re Intuit Free File Litigation

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 MICHELE ARENA, et al., Case No. 19-cv-02546-CRB

Plaintiffs,

ORDER AND OPINION DENYING

v. MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY

APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION

INTUIT INC., et al., SETTLEMENT Defendants.

A group of Plaintiffs brought a putative class action against Intuit, Inc., alleging that Intuit induced them into paying for its tax preparation services when they were entitled to use Intuit’s free-filing option. The Court previously denied Intuit’s Motion to Compel Arbitration, but the Ninth Circuit reversed. Plaintiffs, with support from Intuit, eventually moved for preliminary approval of a proposed settlement. The settlement would award claimants who expected to file for free, but ended up paying roughly $100 per year they filed, an estimated $28 assuming a 5% participation rate. It would also require Intuit to take various steps to inform consumers of the free file option. In the meantime, many Intuit customers…