| Case | Braun v. Dolgencorp, LLC d/b/a Dollar General, No. MID-L-00950-25 (shelf price vs. register price settlement, $15 million total value) |
| Court | Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Middlesex County |
| Status | Closed, no longer accepting claims |
| Claim deadline | April 13, 2026 |
| Estimated payout | $10 or the actual overcharge per documented overcharge, up to two per household (usually $20 max), plus a $3 in-store discount for all class members |
| Proof required | Yes |
| How to file | Official settlement website (claims closed) |
No class action lawsuit Dollar General shoppers can claim from is open right now. Braun v. Dolgencorp, the $15 million shelf price case, stopped taking claims on April 13, 2026, and its $3 in-store discount ran June 1 and 2, 2026. The newest case is different: on October 26, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued the chain in federal court over register prices that ran higher than the shelf tag. That suit has no claim form, and none should be expected unless it ends in a judgment or settlement that includes refunds.
Almost every case below comes back to one problem: price discrepancies between what store shelves advertise and the charge at the register. They differ in who sued, where the money goes, and whether you ever had a claim.
Every Case at a Glance: Who Sued and Who Gets Paid
Only two were consumer class actions that paid shoppers, and both are closed. The rest were brought by regulators or by investors.
| Case | Brought by | Key dates | Claim for shoppers? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braun v. Dolgencorp | Private class (New Jersey state court) | Filed Feb. 12, 2025; preliminary approval Dec. 15, 2025; fairness hearing Mar. 19, 2026 | Closed Apr. 13, 2026 |
| FTC and 20 states | Federal and state regulators | Filed Oct. 26, 2026 | None; case just started |
| Missouri AG | State of Missouri | Sued 2023; reported settled July 27, 2026 | Terms not public |
| Pennsylvania AG | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Announced Dec. 9, 2025 | No; $1.55 million penalties and costs |
| Ohio AG | State of Ohio | Settled Oct. 2023 | No; $1 million to food banks |
| Securities suit | Investors | Dismissed with prejudice Sept. 25, 2026 | No |
| DG Auto motor oil | Private class | $28.5 million, approved 2021 | Closed years ago |
The FTC and 20 States Sued in October 2026
The FTC complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, alleges that Dollar General Corporation charged customers more at checkout than the advertised price on shelves, tags, and ads for years, across thousands of its more than 21,000 stores. The agency says the company received tens of thousands of consumer complaints and knew about the problem without fixing it.
The 20 states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. Missouri and Pennsylvania are not on the list. Ohio is, even though it settled its own pricing case in 2023.
A government enforcement suit is not a class action. You can’t join it, and a “sign up” page for it is a red flag. If you were overcharged, the FTC asks you to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Any refund program would come later, and only if a court order or settlement creates one.
Braun v. Dolgencorp: The $15 Million Shelf Price Settlement
Jennifer Braun filed in New Jersey state court on February 12, 2025, and the class action settlement reached a $15 million total value: an $8.5 million cash fund plus $6.5 million valued as pricing fixes. The class period covered all consumers in the United States who paid more or less for merchandise than the price labeled on the shelf at a Dollar General store from October 10, 2016, through November 19, 2025. If you shopped there in that window, you may qualify as a class member even without a receipt. Final approval was reported in March 2026.
What a Cash Payment Required
A cash payment paid $10 per documented overcharge or the actual overcharge, whichever is higher, for up to two per household. To be eligible, the official notice accepted two kinds of proof:
- A complaint made at the time to a government agency or to the company about a specific product, and not already resolved by the store.
- Objective evidence made at the time, such as a receipt paired with a photo of the shelf tag.
Why the Payout Was So Small
Two documented 50 cent overcharges pay $20, because the $10 floor applies to each. Only a shopper with larger documented losses got more. Everyone else could register for the in-store benefit with no proof: $3 off a purchase of $10 or more (pretax), once, during a two-day window, through a myDG account or the registration form. Whether a $20 cap is worth the effort is the question our guide on whether class actions are worth it works through.
The fine print mattered. The $3 discount excluded tobacco, alcohol, milk, propane, gift and prepaid cards, and prepaid phones, and it couldn’t be stacked with another store coupon (manufacturer coupons were fine). Checks expire 60 days after mailing, and uncashed money goes to a national food bank charity, not back to the class.
Class counsel, The Dann Law Firm and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, asked for up to 33.3% of the common fund, paid before claimants.
Is Any Class Action Lawsuit Dollar General Faces Still Open for Claims?
No. If you didn’t file in Braun, nothing is left: the claim window, the opt-out deadline (March 2, 2026), and the $3 redemption days have all passed, and you’re bound by the release even if you never filed. If you did submit a claim, watch your mail and email for a check or digital payment from the settlement administrator, and cash it inside 60 days.
For payment status, use the official settlement website or call the administrator at 1-844-262-4248, the number printed on the court-approved notice. For how a small refund-style payment is treated at tax time, see our guide to whether settlements are taxable.
Why State AG Cases Send Money to the State, Not You
An attorney general sues on behalf of the public under consumer protection laws, so penalties go to the state or to charity unless the deal sets up restitution. A private class action works the other way, as our explainer on what a class action is covers.
- Ohio: Attorney General Dave Yost, the state’s top consumer protection lawyer, sued after the Butler County Auditor found error rates of 16.7% to 88.2% at 20 stores. The $1 million deal in October 2023 went to Ohio food banks.
- Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Attorney General said stores failed more than 40% of price inspections from 2019 to 2023. The $1.55 million is penalties and costs, plus weekly shelf tag updates and two surprise audits per store each year.
- Missouri: The state sued in 2023 after 92 of 147 inspected stores failed price checks, with an average overcharge of $2.71 per item, up to $6.50. It asked for restitution, and the case was reported settled July 27, 2026, days before trial. Whether any refunds reach Missouri shoppers hasn’t been disclosed.
Investor Suit Dismissed, Motor Oil Deal Long Over
The investor suit, Washtenaw County Employees’ Retirement System v. Dollar General (No. 3:23-cv-01250, Middle District of Tennessee), alleged securities fraud: that the company hid understaffing and inventory problems. A judge dismissed it without prejudice in June 2025, the plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint, and Judge Aleta A. Trauger dismissed that one with prejudice on September 25, 2026, according to the company’s defense law firm. The plaintiffs could still appeal, but there is no claim form for shareholders.
The DG Auto motor oil settlement ($28.5 million, approved in 2021) paid buyers of obsolete 10W-30, 10W-40, and SAE 30 oil sold from 2010 to 2017. That deadline passed years ago.
Proof That Would Count in the Next Pricing Case
Braun paid cash only to people with proof made at the time, and the next pricing litigation will likely work the same way. Save it while the tag is still on the shelf.
- Photograph the shelf tag before you check out. The date on your phone photo helps.
- Keep the receipt, or save it in the myDG app.
- Ask for the difference at the counter. A resolved overcharge didn’t qualify in Braun, but you get your money back that day.
- If the store refuses, file a complaint with your state AG, your weights and measures office, or the FTC. That complaint is the “contemporaneous” record a settlement looks for.
The same shelf versus register issue is behind the pending Home Depot pricing lawsuit. For other open claims with close dates, check our settlement deadlines list.
If you filed in the closed class action lawsuit Dollar General settled, cash the payment within 60 days of the mailing date. If you didn’t, start saving receipts and shelf photos now, report overcharges to the FTC, and read how to join a class action so you’re ready if the federal case produces a refund notice.
Dollar General Lawsuit FAQ
Is there a lawsuit against Dollar General right now?
Yes. The FTC and 20 states filed a pricing suit on October 26, 2026, in federal court in Tennessee. It has no claim process. The $15 million Braun settlement closed to claims on April 13, 2026, and the securities case was dismissed with prejudice in September 2026.
Has the Dollar General settlement been approved?
Yes. Braun v. Dolgencorp settled for $15 million total, received preliminary approval on December 15, 2025, and had its final fairness hearing on March 19, 2026, with final approval reported that month. Approved claimants are paid by the administrator after final approval and any appeals.
How much will I get from the Dollar General settlement?
Most approved claimants get $10 per documented overcharge, up to $20 per household. You get more only if your actual documented overcharges add up to more than that. Everyone in the group could also register for a one-time $3 in-store discount.
Is the Dollar General settlement legit?
Yes. It was authorized by the Superior Court of New Jersey in Middlesex County, and the official site is dgpricesettlement.com. Any site asking you to pay a fee or file a new claim for this case now is not the administrator.
Can I join the FTC lawsuit against Dollar General?
No. It is a government enforcement action, not a class action, so there is nothing to join or file. You can report an overcharge at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and any refunds would only follow a court order or settlement.
This page is basic information about legal cases involving Dollar General, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a licensed attorney.