The Right to Opt Out Explained
As a class member in the Safeway BOGO Class Action Settlement – Stewart et al. v. Albertsons Cos., Inc. – you had rights that were very important to your participation in the settlement. Although the vast majority of class members who were eligible for the settlement received one, you specifically had a right to opt out, or exclude yourself from the settlement. But what does that mean? Who should opt out? Why? And how? This page is designed to answer all of those questions, from what opting out entails, to details about why you may wish to opt out, to what was required to opt out from the settlement process.
What is the Opt-Out Option?
Opt-Out means that you decided to exclude yourself from participating in the Class Action Settlement. By opting out, you gave up your right to receive a payment or other benefits from the settlement, but you did not give up your right to start your own lawsuit against Safeway Inc. or Albertsons Companies LLC regarding their pricing of “Buy One Get One Free” or “Buy One Get Two Free” meat promotions in Oregon between May 4, 2015 and September 7, 2016. If you did not opt out, then you are subject to the terms of the settlement and you cannot bring a separate legal action over this issue.
Who Could Opt Out?
Any person who fell within the definition of a class member (i.e., you purchased meat products at any Safeway stores in Oregon under BOGO or Buy One, Get Two Free promotions using a Safeway Club Card during relevant times) was eligible to opt out. But even if you were sent a settlement notice or believed you were eligible for a settlement notice but did not receive it, you could request exclusion from the settlement.
How to Opt-Out of the Settlement
All persons who wanted to opt out had to send a written request for exclusion to the attention of the Claims Administrator by the deadline approved by the court. The opt-out request had to contain your full legal name and your mailing address and telephone number as well as a written statement specifying that you requested exclusion from the Safeway BOGO Class Action Settlement (e.g. stating “I request to be excluded from the Safeway BOGO Class Action Settlement” was sufficient). You also had to sign and date your proposed opt-out request. A completed and signed opt-out request had to have been mailed or e-mailed to the Settlement Administrator at the address or e-mail set forth below and postmarked or received no later than the Opt-Out Deadline (July 16, 2023). Any opt-out requests postmarked or received after the Opt-Out Deadline was not valid or effective.
Where to Send Your Opt-Out Letter
All requests for exclusion had to be sent to the below address for receipt by the official Claims Administrator:
Safeway BOGO Class Action Settlement
Claims Administrator
789 N Cascade Ave Ste 58
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (719) 925-0282
Requests sent to any address other than the one reflected above, or by means other than those reflected above were not valid. It was advised you make and keep a copy of your opt-out request and proof of mailing or emailing.
What Happens When You Opt Out
As you properly submitted a timely and valid exclusion from the class, you were no longer an object of this class action settlement, and thus didn’t receive the approximately $200 per payment or other relief afforded to absent class members. Instead, you preserved the right to file a separate lawsuit against Safeway or Albertsons for the subject alleged conduct. The class action settlement and its release of claims does not cover you. Had you not opted out of the class, you would nevertheless remain bound by the terms and effect of the settlement even if you did not submit a claim.
Important Dates and Final Thoughts
The deadline for Safeway BOGO consumers to opt out of the Safeway class action settlement was July 16, 2023. The claims administrator will not accept any requests for exclusion after this date. If you have any questions about your status or believe a mistake was made with your opt-out request, you should contact the Claims Administrator at the contact information provided below. Please be aware that only those official channels listed on this Website are authorized to provide authoritative information about this settlement.
Get Help from the Claims Administrator
If you have questions about the opt-out process, eligibility, or any other issues regarding the settlement please contact the Claims Administrator:
Claims Administrator
789 N Cascade Ave Ste 58
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 925-0282
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://safewaybogoclassaction.com/
The Claims Administrator can answer your questions. Only trust information given through the above outlets for your safekeeping.