Phone Leasing Company Will Pay Class $8.7 Million Over Robotexts

SmartPay Leasing Inc. will pay $8.7 million to resolve allegations it sent unwanted text messages under a deal that won early approval from the Northern District of California.

The fund will be evenly distributed among more than 23,000 class members. Each will receive $375 before deductions for attorneys’ fees and other expenses.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act provides for statutory damages of $500 per text. “This settlement amounts to 75% of the monetary damages plaintiff contends is owed to the class,” the court said Sept. 12.

Shawn Esparza sued SmartPay alleging she continued to receive promotional text messages after she ...