Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why should I read the notice?

    If you made a food delivery order through Chipotle’s App or Website between May 11, 2020 and January 19, 2022, you are a member of a Settlement Class and may be entitled to an award from a class action settlement.

    A Court authorized the notice because you had a right to know about the Settlement of a class action lawsuit known as Aaron Aseltine and John Dundon v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., Case No. RG21088118 and about all of your options before the Court gave final approval to the Settlement. This website explains the lawsuit, the Settlement, and your legal rights.

    Judge Evelio Grillo of the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Alameda oversaw this case. The people who sued are called the “Plaintiffs.” Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (“Chipotle”) was the Defendant.

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  2. What was this lawsuit about?

    This lawsuit alleged that Chipotle made representations regarding its delivery fees, service fees, and menu prices on its delivery orders that were false or misleading. You can get complete details on these allegations in the Amended Complaint available here.

    Chipotle asserts that all communications around its delivery orders were truthful and not misleading, and expressly denies any liability or wrongdoing of any kind associated with the claims alleged in the Action, and further contends that, for any purpose other than Settlement, the Action is not appropriate for class treatment.

    The Parties agreed to a Settlement. The Court has not decided who is right.

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  3. Why was the Lawsuit a Class Action?

    In a class action, one or more people called “Class Representatives” (in this case, Plaintiffs Aaron Aseltine and John Dundon) sue on behalf of themselves and other people with similar claims. Together, all the people with similar claims (except those who exclude themselves) are members of a “Settlement Class.”

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  4. Why was there a Settlement?

    The Court has not decided in favor of the Plaintiffs or Defendant. Instead, both sides have agreed to the Settlement. By agreeing to the Settlement, the Parties avoid the costs and uncertainty of a trial, and if the Settlement is approved by the Court, Settlement Class Members will receive the benefits described in the notice. The Settlement does not mean that any law was broken or that Chipotle did anything wrong. Chipotle denies all legal claims in this case. Plaintiffs and their lawyers think the Settlement is best for everyone who was affected.

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  5. Was I a part of the Settlement?

    You were a Class Member and might have been entitled to relief if you made a food delivery order through Chipotle’s App or Website during the period May 11, 2020, through January 19, 2022. The Settlement created Subclasses:

    The Non-Rewards Member Settlement Subclass - all persons in the United States who were not members of Chipotle’s Rewards Program and ordered food delivery through Defendant’s App or Website during the Class Period and were charged a service fee and/or increased menu prices pursuant to disclosures Plaintiffs allege were deficient.

    The Rewards Member Settlement Subclass - all persons in the United States who were members of Chipotle’s Rewards Program and ordered food delivery through Defendant’s App or Website during the Class Period and were charged a service fee and/or increased menu prices pursuant to disclosures Plaintiffs allege were deficient.

    Excluded from each Subclass were all persons who validly opted out of the Settlement in a timely manner; governmental entities; counsel of record (and their respective law firms) for the Parties; Defendant and any of its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, independent service providers and all of its respective employees, officers, and directors; the presiding judge in the Action or judicial officer presiding over the matter, and all of their immediate families and judicial staff; and any natural person or entity that entered into a release with Defendant prior to the Effective Date concerning Defendant’s pricing or advertisements when ordering food delivery through Defendant’s App or Website.

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  6. What does the Settlement Provide?

    For the Non-Rewards Settlement Class Members, the Settlement creates a “Non-Rewards Member Settlement Fund” of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000 USD). The Fund will first be used to pay the costs of the Notice Plan and the Claims Process, including exclusions and objections. The Fund will then be used to pay any other remaining Settlement Costs. The remaining amounts (the “Net Settlement Fund) will then be used to pay cash “Settlement Awards” to Non-Rewards Subclass Members who file a valid Claim. Non-Rewards Subclass Members who submitted a valid Claim will share the amount of the Net Settlement Fund equally.

    For the Rewards Member Settlement Subclass, the Settlement offers vouchers for one free entrée from the Chipotle menu. The total vouchers to Rewards Subclass Members will not exceed Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000 USD) in retail value. Chipotle will have no obligation to honor any Claims of reimbursement made by Rewards Subclass Members once Chipotle has issued Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000 USD) in retail value worth of vouchers in the aggregate to Rewards Subclass Members. Retail value will be calculated using an average entrée value of $8.50.

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  7. How could I have gotten my Cash Payment or Chipotle Voucher?

    If you are a Non-Rewards Class Member, you must have filled out and submitted a Claim Form to qualify for a cash payment. The completed Claim Form must have been submitted online by June 28, 2022.

    Upon receiving a completed Claim Form, the Settlement Administrator will review and confirm or deny your eligibility for a cash payment. Non-Rewards Class Members who filed a valid Claim will receive an email regarding how to receive a digital payment.

    If you are a Rewards Class Member, you must have filed your Claim online. If the Settlement is approved, Settlement Awards to Rewards Subclass Members who submit a valid Claim will be provided (via email) a redemption code for a free regularly priced entrée from the Chipotle menu.

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  8. When will I receive my Cash Payment or Chipotle Voucher?

    The Court gave the Settlement Final Approval on September 16. 2022 There may be appeals and the appeal process can take time, perhaps more than a year. You will not receive your Cash Payment or Voucher until any appeals are resolved. Please be patient.

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  9. What else does the Settlement Provide?

    Beginning on April 2, 2021, Chipotle revised the disclosures on its App and Website to a) state expressly that menu prices may be higher for delivery orders; and b) state that service charges are separate from and in addition to delivery fees, including, without limitation, the statement presented to consumers on both Chipotle’s Website and App during the online ordering process, but prior to purchasing food for delivery: “Menu pricing for delivery is higher and fees apply”; the statement presented to consumers on both Chipotle’s Website and App at checkout, but prior to purchasing food for delivery: “Delivery includes higher menu prices and additional fees to help offset the costs of delivery”; and the Offer Terms included with advertising of promotional pricing offers for delivery orders.

    These disclosures are intended to remediate the issues identified by Plaintiffs and fairly and adequately inform customers of these food delivery-related charges in compliance with applicable laws. Chipotle agrees to keep these or substantially similar remediation measures in place as long as they are applicable to delivery orders.

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  10. What did I give up to receive these Settlement benefits?

    Unless you excluded yourself from the Settlement, you cannot sue or be part of any other lawsuit against the Chipotle about the issues in this case, including any existing litigation, arbitration, or proceeding. Unless you excluded yourself, all of the decisions and judgments by the Court bind you. If you filed a Claim Form for benefits or did nothing at all, you released Chipotle from all of the claims described and identified in Section IV of the Settlement Agreement.

    The Settlement Agreement is available here. The Settlement Agreement provides more detail regarding the release and describes the Released Claims with specific descriptions in necessary, accurate legal terminology, so read it carefully. You can talk to the law firms representing the Class listed in FAQ 11 for free, or you can, at your own expense, talk to your own lawyer if you have any questions about the Released Claims or what they mean.

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  11. Do I have lawyers in this case?

    The Court appointed attorneys from the law firm KalielGold LLP, of Washington, D.C. to represent you and the other Class Members. The lawyers are called Class Counsel. They are experienced in handling similar class action cases. You will not be charged for these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may have hired one at your own expense.

    You may contact Class Counsel if you have any questions about the Notice or the Settlement. Please do not contact the Court.

    Class Counsel:
    Jeff Kaliel
    Sophia Gold
    KALIELGOLD PLLC
    1100 15th Street NW, 4th Floor
    Washington, D.C. 20005

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  12. How will the lawyers be paid?

    The Court awarded Class Counsel $612,000 following their request for fees. An additional $7,687.50 in expenses was also awarded for the various expenditures made by Class Counsel handling this Settlement.

    The Court awarded an incentive award of $5,000 to each Class Representative for their participation as Class Representatives, for taking on the risks of litigation, and for Settlement of their individual Claims as Settlement Class Members in this Action.

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  13. How could I have gotten out of the Settlement?

    The deadline for opting out of the Settlement was May 25, 2022.

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  14. If I excluded myself, can I get anything from this Settlement?

    No. If you excluded yourself, you cannot receive a Cash Payment or a Chipotle Voucher. But, you may sue, continue to sue, or be part of a different lawsuit against Chipotle about the legal issues in this case.

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  15. How could I have told I don’t like the Settlement?

    The deadline to object to the Settlement was May 25, 2022.

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  16. What's the difference between objecting and excluding?

    Objecting was simply telling the Court that you don’t like something about the Settlement. You could have objected only if you stayed in the Settlement Class. Excluding yourself was telling the Court that you don’t want to be part of the Settlement Class. If you excluded yourself, you had no basis to object because you are no longer part of the case.

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  17. When and where will the court decide whether to approve the Settlement?

    The Court granted Final Approval of the Settlement on September 16, 2022. The Final Approval Hearing was held virtually on August 3, 2022.

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  18. Do I have to attend the Final Approval Hearing?

    The Final Approval Hearing passed on August 3, 2022.

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  19. May I speak at the Final Approval Hearing?

    The Final Approval Hearing was held on August 3, 2022.

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  20. What happens if I did nothing at all?

    If you did nothing, you’ll be part of the Settlement Class, but get no Cash Payment or Chipotle Voucher from the Settlement. Unless you excluded yourself, you will not be permitted to continue to assert Released Claims in any other lawsuit against Chipotle about the legal issues in this case, ever again.

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  21. Are there more details about the Settlement?

    This website summarizes the proposed Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement. You can get a copy of the Settlement Agreement here, or by contacting Class Counsel at the address listed in response to FAQ 11.

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  22. How do I get more information?

    You can call toll-free 1-855-675-3034, write to Delivery Fee Settlement, P.O. Box 3037, Portland, OR 97208-3037; or go to the Important Documents page, where you will find a copy of the Notice, the Settlement Agreement, the Motion for Preliminary Approval, Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and other important documents in the case.

    PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT OR ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF DEFENDANT CONCERNING THE NOTICE OR THE SETTLEMENT.

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