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No. 17-961October Term 2018Decided Mar 20, 2019

Docket 17-961October Term 2018 (2018–2019)

Frank v. Gaos

This case arose from a privacy class action against Google over allegations that it shared users’ search terms with third-party websites.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Mar 20, 2019
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedMar 20, 2019
What it's about

This case arose from a privacy class action against Google over allegations that it shared users’ search terms with third-party websites. The Supreme Court did not decide whether the settlement was proper; instead, it vacated the Ninth Circuit’s approval of a settlement that paid only cy pres recipients and sent the case back to consider whether the named plaintiffs had Article III standing under Spokeo.

Question presented

Whether, or in what circumstances, a cy pres award of class action proceeds that provides no direct relief to class members supports class certification and comports with the requirement that a settlement binding class members must be "fair, reasonable, and adequate."?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit / Decision released Mar 20, 2019

Area

Decided Supreme Court case

Timing

Decided March 20, 2019

The Court released its decision on March 20, 2019 without hearing oral argument.