Costa Del Mar Warranty Fee Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Smith v. Costa Del Mar, Inc., No. 16-2025-CA-004472

Paid Costa a fee to fix sunglasses under its “Lifetime Warranty”? You probably don’t have to do anything to get money back. Costa Del Mar, Inc. agreed to pay $4,095,000 to settle Smith v. Costa Del Mar, Inc., No. 16-2025-CA-004472, over warranty repair fees the lawsuit says shouldn’t have been charged at all. Here’s how to check if you qualify — and why doing nothing might be the right move here.

Costa Del Mar Warranty Settlement — Key Facts

Detail	Info
Settlement Amount	$4,095,000
Claim Form	Not required — payment is automatic based on Costa’s own repair records
Who Qualifies	US citizens who bought Costa sunglasses before 1/1/2016 and paid a warranty repair fee between 8/20/2013–2/29/2020
Estimated Payout	Pro rata per eligible repair; no dollar figure is disclosed
Proof Required	No — eligibility comes from Costa’s records, not from documentation you submit
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved; Final Approval Hearing pending
Court & Case Number	Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, FL — No. 16-2025-CA-004472
Law Alleged	Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2301 et seq.
Administrator	Epiq
Official Claim Site	costasunglasswarrantysettlement.com
Last Updated	September 5, 2026

Who Is Costa Del Mar and Why Are They Being Sued Over Warranty Fees?

Costa Del Mar sells sunglasses under a “Lifetime Warranty” against manufacturer’s defects — and that word “Lifetime” is exactly the problem. Federal law says a “full warranty” has to cover defect repairs “without charge,” and the lawsuit claims Costa charged a $11.95-plus-tax processing fee anyway, on roughly 909,685 repairs during the class period. Costa denies it did anything wrong and says the fee was always disclosed.

What Did Costa Del Mar Do to Sunglasses Owners Between 2013 and 2020?

This case actually started back in 2018 in federal court, reached a settlement, and then got vacated by the Eleventh Circuit on jurisdictional grounds — so Troy Smith refiled the identical claim in Florida state court in July 2025. The claim itself hasn’t changed: Costa’s “Lifetime Warranty” should qualify as a “full warranty” under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and full warranties can’t come with a repair fee.

Here’s what’s different about how this one pays out. There’s no claim form. Costa already has the repair records — its own “Costa’s Data” identifying who paid a warranty fee and when — and the settlement administrator uses that data directly. You get one payment for every repair tied to your name, automatically, unless you opt out.

That flips the usual settlement math. Most of the time, doing nothing means you get nothing. Here, doing nothing is what gets you paid.

Who Qualifies for the Costa Del Mar Warranty Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if the Costa warranty settlement includes you.

• US citizens who bought non-prescription Costa sunglasses before January 1, 2016
• Anyone who paid Costa a fee to repair or replace those sunglasses for a manufacturer’s defect
• Repairs must fall between August 20, 2013, and February 29, 2020
• Multiple qualifying repairs mean multiple payments, one per repair record

You do not qualify if you’re Costa, a Costa employee or officer, the assigned judge or judge’s staff, or counsel for either side.

Costa Customers Outside Florida — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. This class covers US citizens nationwide, not just Florida residents. Where you live doesn’t matter — whether you paid that repair fee during the class period does.

Not sure if you qualify? A consumer protection attorney can help, though this settlement doesn’t require one to get paid.

How Much Can Costa Del Mar Warranty Settlement Class Members Get?

There’s no stated dollar figure per person. Payment is pro rata: the Net Settlement Fund — what’s left of the $4,095,000 after Class Counsel’s requested $1,200,000 in fees and expenses, plus administration costs — gets divided evenly across every eligible repair on record. More repairs tied to your name means more payments, not a bigger single check.

Payments go out by whichever method you pick on the settlement website — paper check, Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle — within 37 days of the settlement becoming final. Don’t pick one, and you’ll get a paper check by default. Any leftover money after a possible second distribution goes to Captains for Clean Water, a boating and marine conservation nonprofit, not back to Costa.

What Should Costa Del Mar Settlement Class Members Do Right Now?

1. Do nothing if you’re fine with a paper check — your payment happens automatically.
2. Pick a payment method (Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle) on the settlement website if you’d rather skip the check.
3. Update your mailing or email address with the administrator if you’ve moved since your last Costa warranty claim.
4. Decide by October 8, 2026 if you want to opt out or object instead.
5. Watch for a possible IRS Form 1099 — Costa may report your payment to tax authorities.
6. Contact the administrator (1-877-502-7701) if you’re not sure whether you’re in Costa’s repair records.

No filing needed. Only decision deadline: October 8, 2026.

Should Costa Del Mar Class Members Opt Out or Object Before October 8, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Costa Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means no automatic payment, but you keep the right to sue Costa on your own. Your written request must be mailed — not emailed or called in — and postmarked by October 8, 2026.

How to Object to the Costa Settlement

Objecting keeps your payment while telling the court what you don’t like, including about the $1,200,000 fee request. File with the Clerk in Jacksonville and mail copies to Class Counsel and Costa’s counsel, postmarked by October 8, 2026.

Talk to a consumer protection attorney before October 8, 2026 if you’re considering either option.

Costa Del Mar Warranty Settlement — Key Dates, 2026-2027

Milestone	Date
Settlement Reached	April 2, 2026
Agreement Signed	July 23, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	October 8, 2026
Objection Deadline	October 8, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	January 20, 2027, 9:30 a.m.
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — roughly 37 days after the settlement becomes final, per the Agreement’s Distribution Date formula

Costa Del Mar Warranty Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer for the Costa Del Mar warranty settlement? 

No. Payment is automatic, and Class Counsel already represents the class at no charge to you.

Is the Costa Del Mar warranty settlement legitimate? 

Yes. It’s a real case, Smith v. Costa Del Mar, Inc., No. 16-2025-CA-004472, pending in Duval County, Florida, and administered by Epiq under court supervision.

Do I need to file a claim for the Costa warranty settlement?

 No. There’s no claim form. Costa’s own repair records determine who gets paid and how many payments they receive.

When will Costa settlement payments be sent? 

About 37 days after the settlement becomes final, which requires the January 20, 2027 hearing to go forward and any appeals to resolve first.

What if I missed a repair or Costa’s records are wrong? 

The settlement relies on Costa’s existing data. Contact Class Counsel or the administrator if you believe your repair history is missing or incorrect.

Will my Costa settlement payment be taxed?

 Possibly. Costa or the administrator may issue a Form 1099, and you’re responsible for any tax owed on the payment.

How much is Class Counsel asking for in fees?

 $1,200,000 from the $4,095,000 fund — a specific amount, not just “up to a third,” stated directly in the settlement notice.

Sources Used in This Costa Del Mar Warranty Settlement Article

• Class Action Settlement Agreement and Limited Release, Smith v. Costa Del Mar, Inc., No. 16-2025-CA-004472, Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, FL, signed July 2026 (provided by user)
• Long Form Notice, Smith v. Costa Del Mar, Inc., No. 16-2025-CA-004472 (provided by user)
• Official Settlement Website: https://costasunglasswarrantysettlement.com/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the Class Action Settlement Agreement and the Long Form Notice on September 5, 2026. Last Updated: September 5, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.