📋 Case Overview

Article Type: Roundup — May 2026 Legal News

Cases Covered: 5

Topics: AI false advertising, environmental liability, data privacy, consumer protection

Last Updated: May 2026

Major Legal Settlements and Lawsuits to Watch: May 2026 Roundup

Several significant class action settlements and newly filed lawsuits are making headlines this May, spanning consumer tech, environmental harm, data privacy, and unsolicited marketing. According to recent reporting from Top Class Actions, the month's most notable development involves Apple agreeing to a landmark $250 million deal over its advertising of iPhone AI capabilities — but that's just one of several cases worth tracking.

Whether you purchased a recent iPhone, live in an Oklahoma county affected by induced earthquakes, or have received unwanted text messages from a financial app, you may want to review the cases below.

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1. Apple iPhone AI Features Settlement

Settlement Amount: $250 million (proposed)

Status: Proposed settlement — not yet final

Who May Qualify: Consumers who purchased certain iPhone models marketed with Apple Intelligence AI features

Apple has agreed to a proposed $250 million class action settlement to resolve allegations that the company falsely advertised artificial intelligence capabilities on certain iPhone models. The lawsuit alleges Apple overhyped its Apple Intelligence features — promoted ahead of and alongside iPhone 16 launches — by marketing capabilities that were either unavailable at the time of sale or failed to perform as advertised.

According to the complaint, consumers paid a premium for devices based on AI feature promises that the lawsuit claims were not delivered as represented. The filing alleges this constitutes deceptive marketing and a breach of consumer protection standards.

The settlement is proposed and remains subject to court approval. Eligible consumers may be able to file a claim if they purchased qualifying iPhone models during the relevant period.

How to stay informed: Monitor the settlement administrator's website for claim filing instructions once the settlement receives court approval.

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2. Freedom Energy Oklahoma Earthquake Settlement

Settlement Amount: $2.6 million

Status: Proposed settlement

Who May Qualify: Oklahoma residents and property owners who experienced earthquake damage in areas near the defendants' wastewater disposal operations

Freedom Energy, Montclair, New Dominion, and HP have agreed to a $2.6 million class action settlement to resolve claims that their wastewater disposal well operations contributed to earthquakes in Oklahoma. The lawsuit alleges that the companies' injection of wastewater into underground wells — a byproduct of oil and gas extraction — triggered seismic activity that caused property damage and other harm to nearby residents.

According to the complaint, plaintiffs in affected Oklahoma counties allege that the defendants knew or should have known that their disposal practices posed an earthquake risk to surrounding communities. The settlement, if approved, would provide potential compensation to qualifying class members who experienced losses as a result.

How to stay informed: Watch for official class notice to be distributed to potential class members in affected Oklahoma counties.

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3. New Mexico AG Seeks $3.7 Billion From Meta

Amount Sought: Approximately $3.7 billion

Status: Active litigation — no settlement reached

Who Is Involved: New Mexico residents, with the state's attorney general acting on behalf of the public

New Mexico's attorney general has asked a state court to order Meta to pay approximately $3.7 billion to address what the state describes as a "public nuisance" created by the company's social media platforms. The lawsuit alleges that Meta's platforms — including Facebook and Instagram — have caused widespread harm to New Mexico residents, particularly children and adolescents, by allegedly fostering addictive use patterns and exposing users to harmful content.

The filing frames the alleged harm as a public nuisance under state law, a legal theory increasingly used by state governments in litigation against large technology companies. Meta has not settled this matter, and the litigation is ongoing. No compensation is currently available to individual consumers through this action.

What to watch: This case could set a significant precedent for how states pursue tech platform liability claims. A ruling or settlement — if one is eventually reached — could be substantial.

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4. FTC vs. Kochava: Geolocation Data Broker Settlement

Settlement Amount: Not publicly specified

Status: Settlement reached

Who May Be Affected: Consumers whose sensitive geolocation data was allegedly sold without proper consent, including data tied to visits to reproductive health clinics, places of worship, and other sensitive locations

A settlement has been reached between the Federal Trade Commission and Idaho-based data broker Kochava and its subsidiary, resolving a federal lawsuit over the alleged sale of detailed consumer geolocation data. According to reporting by the HIPAA Journal, the FTC alleged that Kochava sold granular location data that could be used to identify individuals' visits to sensitive locations — including medical facilities and religious institutions — without adequate consumer consent or data protections.

The settlement is reported to include requirements that Kochava implement a data deletion program and restrict certain data practices going forward. This case reflects continued federal regulatory attention on the data broker industry and the consumer privacy risks associated with the sale of location information.

Note: This was an FTC enforcement action, not a traditional consumer class action. Individual consumers are not expected to receive direct compensation through this settlement, but the case may have broader implications for data broker regulation.

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5. MoneyLion Unsolicited Text Message Class Action

Status: Newly filed lawsuit

Who May Qualify: Washington state residents who allegedly received unsolicited referral or marketing text messages from MoneyLion without prior consent

A newly filed class action lawsuit alleges that MoneyLion, a financial services app, violated Washington state law by sending unsolicited text messages to consumers who had not consented to receive them. According to the complaint, the messages were referral-related and marketing in nature, and the lawsuit claims their transmission without proper consent runs afoul of Washington's consumer protection and communication statutes.

The lawsuit seeks to represent a class of Washington residents who received similar messages. The case is in early stages, and no settlement has been reached.

What to watch: Washington state has some of the nation's stronger consumer protection laws around unsolicited communications. If the case proceeds and a class is certified, Washington residents who received such messages may potentially have a path to compensation — though eligibility would be determined by the court and any eventual settlement terms.

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Key Takeaways

• The Apple settlement is the largest dollar figure this month, but it is still proposed and not yet final — claim filing windows have not yet opened for most consumers.
• Environmental liability cases are expanding beyond traditional pollution claims — the Oklahoma earthquake settlement illustrates that wastewater disposal practices are increasingly scrutinized as a source of community harm.
• State attorneys general are playing a larger role in tech accountability, with New Mexico's $3.7 billion Meta demand representing a growing trend of states pursuing platform liability under public nuisance theories.
• Data broker regulation is tightening — the Kochava settlement signals that the FTC is actively targeting companies that sell sensitive location data without meaningful consumer consent.
• TCPA and state-level texting laws remain active — consumers in states with strong communication laws, like Washington, continue to bring lawsuits over unsolicited marketing messages.

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Have you filed a claim in any of these cases, or do you have experience with one of the companies named above? Share your story in the comments below.

InjuryClaims.com reports on class action lawsuits and settlements. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Eligibility for any settlement or lawsuit is determined by courts and settlement administrators, not by this publication.