The Varsity class action claim form is no longer being accepted. The filing deadline was May 5, 2025, and the Settlement Administrator has finished reviewing submissions to the $82.5 million antitrust fund covering indirect purchases of Varsity cheer competitions, apparel, camps, and lodging between December 10, 2016, and March 31, 2024. If your claim was approved, a check will be mailed to you no later than March 27, 2026.1Varsity Cheer Settlement. Cheer Settlement Home
Can You Still File a Claim
No. The court granted final approval on December 6, 2024, and the hard deadline for all submissions was May 5, 2025. On February 12, 2026, the court approved the Settlement Administrator’s Final Report, which closed out the claims process and cleared the fund for distribution. Late claims are not being processed.1Varsity Cheer Settlement. Cheer Settlement Home
What the Claim Form Asked For
If you already filed and want to confirm what the Administrator is reviewing, the form had a few core parts.
It opened with contact information and, for people who received a mailed or emailed notice, a Claimant ID or Control Number tying the filing to purchase records the Administrator already had. Claimants without a notice could still file but had to supply more supporting detail.1Varsity Cheer Settlement. Cheer Settlement Home
Spending was broken into four categories matching the class definition: competition fees and related expenses, Varsity cheer apparel, camp fees, and accommodations at Varsity competitions. Claimants entered approximate dates and dollar amounts for each. Exact figures pulled from receipts or bank statements carried more weight than rough estimates, though approximations were accepted where records were unavailable.2Angeion Group. State Law Damages Class Claim Form
Every claimant also had to submit proof that the cheer athlete participated in an All-Star gym or school cheer team. Acceptable documents included signed contracts, invoices, payment receipts, order forms, gym or school membership records, and awards received by the athlete. The form ended with a declaration under penalty of perjury that the information was truthful and that the claimant was the legal owner of the claim.2Angeion Group. State Law Damages Class Claim Form
When Payments Arrive and How Much to Expect
All approved class members will be paid by check no later than March 27, 2026, mailed to the address on file with the Settlement Administrator.1Varsity Cheer Settlement. Cheer Settlement Home
Amounts follow a pro-rata model. The $82.5 million gross fund is reduced by court-approved deductions for attorney fees, litigation expenses, administration and notice costs, applicable taxes, and service awards for the class representatives. The remaining net fund is then divided among valid claimants in proportion to each person’s share of total qualifying purchases.3Cheer Settlement. FAQs – Cheer Settlement
Only 5,831 valid claims were ultimately approved. That small pool splitting a large net fund pushes individual payouts well above typical class action results. Reported estimates place the average payment around $8,181, with the highest individual payment above $51,000 and the lowest around $335. Your actual check depends on how much you spent relative to the total qualifying purchases across all approved claims.
Update Your Mailing Address Before the Check Ships
Payments go to the address the Settlement Administrator has on file. If you have moved since you filed, update your information now. The Administrator can be reached by phone at 1-877-796-7731 or by email at Info@CheerAntitrustSettlement.com.1Varsity Cheer Settlement. Cheer Settlement Home
A check returned as undeliverable adds delay and may require additional verification before a replacement is issued. With the March 27, 2026 deadline approaching, confirming your address ahead of time is the simplest way to avoid problems.
Tax Treatment of Your Payment
Antitrust settlement payments to consumers generally fall into one of two tax buckets. If the IRS treats the payment as compensating you for prices you overpaid, it acts as a purchase price adjustment and is not taxable income. If it is characterized instead as a damage award beyond what you originally spent, it can be taxable as ordinary income. The distinction turns on the “origin of the claim” test, which asks what the payment was meant to replace.4IRS. Tax Implications of Settlements and Judgments
Many consumer antitrust recoveries are small enough that the tax question does not meaningfully change a return. If your payment is sizable, talk to a tax professional before filing. Read any paperwork that arrives with the check carefully, since the Settlement Administrator or class counsel may include tax-related guidance.
What the Case Was About
The lawsuit alleged that Varsity Brands used its dominant position in the cheerleading industry to inflate prices for competitions, apparel, and camps. Plaintiffs claimed Varsity maintained its monopoly through restrictive contracts with gyms and schools and by acquiring competitors, leaving families with few alternatives and higher costs. Varsity did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. Along with the $82.5 million fund, a separate Injunctive Relief Class secured court-ordered changes to Varsity’s business practices intended to promote more competition going forward.1Varsity Cheer Settlement. Cheer Settlement Home