[consumerist.com]- A settlement has been reached in the class action lawsuit against Girls Gone Wild for sending and charging customers for DVDs they didn’t order. After ordering one DVD, defendants Mantra Films, Inc., MRA Holdings LLC and Joe Francis were alleged to enroll customers in a monthly video club plan without the member’s knowledge or consent and charge their credit card without authorizations. Depending on how much proof of purchase they have, class members can get a refund for the videos, shipping costs, or a discount on future jug-jiggling videos:

If you bought a Girls Gone Wild video or DVD from the Girls Gone Wild toll-free number or website after June 2, 1999, you can be part of this class action lawsuit if:

* You received one or more additional videos or DVDs that you did not order, and
* You were charged for these additional videos or DVDs on the credit or debit card you used to pay for your original order. The additional charges were made without your consent or authorization.

Your legal rights are affected whether you act, or don’t act. Read the Notice carefully to learn more about this case and your options.
What this case is about

This case is called In re Girls Gone Wild Litigation. The lawsuit claims:

* The Defendants (Mantra Films, Inc., MRA Holdings LLC and Joe Francis) automatically enrolled anyone who bought a Girls Gone Wild video or DVD after June 2, 1999 in a monthly video club (“continuity plan” or “monthly video club”) without their knowledge or consent.
* After delivering the first order, the Defendants mailed other, unordered videos or DVDs and charged approximately $26, plus shipping and handling, to the consumer’s credit or debit card without the consumer’s authorization. The Defendants charged these consumers’ credit or debit cards for the additional, unordered videos or DVDs, plus shipping and handling fees, without sending billing notices, and
* These practices violate the Unfair Competition Law and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act.

This class action was brought in the Superior Court of the State of California in Los Angeles County. The lawyers for the class members (the Plaintiffs) are asking the Court for restitution, injunctive relief, return of profits and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Defendants Mantra Films, MRA Holdings and Joe Francis deny these claims. Among other things, the Defendants say the customers agreed to be enrolled in the continuity program.
Settlement and Claim Administration

The case has settled and the Court has preliminarily approved the settlement. The case is now set for dissemination of notice of settlement to class members, submission of claims by class members and final approval of the settlement.

For those who receive a notice of a proposed settlement or who saw a published notice, this website provides additional information regarding the settlement of these class actions, which may affect your legal rights. Please read it carefully. If this website does not answer all of your questions, please contact counsel for the Plaintiffs (“Class Counsel”) at the email address below. It is important that you act quickly so that you do not lose any legal rights you may have.

The Court and Plaintiffs’ Counsel wants you to know about your options in this case called In re Girls Gone Wild Litigation. If you bought a video or DVD from the Girls Gone Wild toll-free number or Girls Gone Wild website and later received other videos or DVDs that were charged to your credit or debit card without your consent or knowledge, you can be part of a class action lawsuit.

The parties expect this process to begin in February 2009. The close of the Claims Period is August 19, 2009. No payments will be made until the claims period has ended and any claims disputes are resolved.

Please be sure to monitor this website for updates on the litigation and the status of the settlement claims process. You may also contact plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel at [email protected] or [email protected].

Thank you for your cooperation.

Please note the following important dates:

Date Case-Related Event
August 19, 2009 Claim Form Deadline (postmarked)
March 27, 2009 Request for Exclusion Deadline (postmarked)
March 27, 2009 Objection Filing Deadline (received)
April 24, 2009
at 1:30 p.m.
(Pacific Time) Final Approval Hearing