Here’s a blast from the past: remember your old Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) TV? If you bought an old TV or computer monitor in certain states between March 1995 and November 2007, you might be able to get some money from the CRT settlement. The recently settled lawsuit will pay customers $33,000,000, and the companies involved (including Mitsubishi Electric Corporation) have admitted no wrongdoing.
Cathode Ray Tube TVs were popular before flat-screen TVs and computer monitors. They used an electronic tube to display images and were much deeper and bulkier than the TVs we see today. They weren’t that expensive to make, but the lawsuit claimed that manufacturers conspired to eliminate competition and set artificially high prices. (It’s kind of like what we saw in the $181 million chicken settlement.)
If you qualify for the CRT settlement, there’s at least a $10 payment in your future. We’ll tell you all about whether you qualify and how to get paid.
The settlement is for people who bought a CRT TV or computer monitor between 1995 and 2007.
The Mitsubishi Electric CRT class action settlement includes all brands of CRT products — except Sony. So if you’re a business or an individual who bought a CRT product between March 1, 1995, and Nov. 25, 2007, in certain states at retailers like Best Buy or Costco (or even a defunct chain like Circuit City), you may be eligible to participate in the settlement regardless of the brand of the CRT product you purchased.
Not sure if you have a CRT monitor or TV? Here are some characteristics that can help you identify them:
- CRT TVs are typically bulky and heavy, with a deep, curved back.
- CRT monitors are similar to CRT TVs but are usually smaller in size and have a flat screen instead of a curved one.
- CRT screens have a glass front that can be reflective, while modern displays typically have a matte finish.
- CRT screens may also have a slightly curved surface or display a noticeable scan line pattern.
- If you’re still not sure, you can usually find the model number of your device on a label on the back or bottom of the screen. You can use this model number to search online to find out more information about your device.
Related: What Is a Class Action Lawsuit? How to Get Settlement Money
To get the settlement, you have to have lived in one of the qualifying states when you bought a CRT product.
You have to live in one of the following states to qualify for the Mitsubishi Electric CRT class action settlement:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Purchases in Missouri, Montana, and Rhode Island must have been made primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to be eligible.
Related: Every 2023 Class Action Settlement: See if You’re Owed Money
You’ll definitely get $10 from the CRT settlement; beyond that, your payout is not entirely clear.
The settlement agreement promises that each Settlement Class Member who submits a valid claim will receive a minimum payment of $10. So even if you only bought one CRT product, you can still file a claim and expect to receive at least $10 in compensation.
Now, if you purchased multiple CRT products, you could be eligible to receive more than $10 — but the exact amount will depend on the total number of valid claims and the types of CRT products purchased.
You don’t necessarily have to have proof of purchase for some of the smaller claims. If you bought lots of CRT screens as an individual or a business, though, you’ll probably be asked for proof. But if you bought just a couple of screens during the claims period, they’ll probably take your word for it.
If you received a previous CRT-related settlement payout, you don’t have to file another claim for this one.
There were some other CRT-related lawsuits, where companies had to pay out a total of $547,750,000. Those companies included big names like Chunghwa, LG, Philips, Panasonic, Hitachi, Toshiba, Samsung SDI, Thomson, and Technologies Displays America.
If your claim was accepted from one of those settlements and you got paid, then you don’t need to do anything for this new settlement. Your claim will just be carried over automatically. But if you think you have a claim for states that weren’t included in the previous settlements, you can submit a claim form for this new settlement by June 13, 2023.
To get paid, you have to file a claim by June 13, 2023.
When you submit a claim form on the official CRT TV settlement website, they’ll ask for your basic information such as your name, email, phone number, and street address. They’ll also ask for some sensitive info like the last four digits of your Social Security number and your birth date.
In addition to personal information, you’ll also need to tell them how many CRT screens you purchased. You’ll have the option to choose whether you want to receive your payment electronically through PayPal or Venmo or if you prefer to receive a check.
The court hearing for final approval of the settlement is scheduled for June 1, 2023. If the court approves the settlement, payments to eligible class members will be made after any appeals are resolved. It may take several months after the claims deadline to receive payment.