U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Grants Final Approval to the $540 Million to $1.22 Billion Discover Card Merchant Misclassification Settlement.

On May 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger concluded a nationwide class action involving claims that the classification of certain Discover payment cards resulted in merchants paying higher interchange fees.

“…The parties engaged in three full-day mediation sessions with the Honorable Jay Gandhi (Ret.) … The negotiations were extremely hard-fought and adversarial, and lasted several months. Through these efforts, and with the assistance of Judge Gandhi, the parties were able to reach an agreement …”

– Joint Declaration in Support of Final Approval

Kudos to the parties and their outstanding counsel for their professionalism, preparation, and commitment to the mediation process.

This outcome highlights the importance of rigorous preparation, deep litigation and judicial insight, and the relentless pursuit of resolution.