There is no way to join the Costco child and forced labor class action yet, because no judge has certified a class and no settlement exists. Costco members Leslie Brunker and Jeremy Parra filed the proposed class action, *Brunker v. Costco Wholesale Corp.*, No.
3:26-cv-02035, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon on October 1, 2026, and the case is still at the complaint stage. That means there is no claims administrator, no claim form, and no sign-up page for Costco members to use right now. The sections below explain what the lawsuit actually alleges, who it would cover if it proceeds, and what a Costco member can realistically do while the case moves through the Oregon federal court.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Kiro7 — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Courthousenews — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What the Lawsuit Against Costco Alleges
- Who the Proposed Class Would Cover
- Why There Is No Claim Form to Submit Right Now
- What an Eligible Costco Member Can Do Now
- A Different Costco Shrimp Lawsuit Is Not This Case
- Frequently Asked Questions
What the Lawsuit Against Costco Alleges
The complaint centers on three Kirkland Signature products. It alleges Kirkland cocoa is tied to child labor in West Africa, Kirkland cashews are linked to underage and forced labor in Brazil, Vietnam, and Guinea-Bissau, and Kirkland shrimp is connected to forced and child labor in India, according to reporting on the Oregon filing by MyNorthwest and The Oregonian. The plaintiffs argue this sourcing contradicts specific promises Costco has made to members.
According to KIRO 7's coverage of the filing, the complaint points to Costco's own supplier code of conduct, its sustainability report, and its membership materials, all of which commit to no illegal child labor and full disclosure of production facilities. The lawsuit frames the gap between those stated policies and the alleged Kirkland supply chains as the core legal problem. Legally, the case rests on Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act and a claim of unjust enrichment. Brunker and Parra are seeking statutory damages of $200 per eligible class member, along with punitive damages, refunds, and a court order requiring Costco to change its sourcing practices, per the MyNorthwest and Oregonian report.
Who the Proposed Class Would Cover
The class definition in this complaint is narrow. It is limited to Oregon residents who held or renewed a Costco membership on or after October 1, 2025, so members outside Oregon fall outside this particular case.
A Costco membership anywhere in the country does not automatically make someone part of this proposed class. Only Oregon-based membership activity on or after that October 2025 date currently falls within the scope the plaintiffs have asked the court to certify. If the case expands to other states or a nationwide class later, that would require a separate amendment or a new filing, which has not happened as of this complaint.
Why There Is No Claim Form to Submit Right Now
A class action moves through distinct stages before anyone can file a claim, and this case has only completed the first one: filing the complaint. A judge must still certify the class, Costco has not yet filed its formal response, and no settlement or verdict exists, so there is no claims administrator or public claim form.
Class actions typically generate a claim form only after certification succeeds or the parties reach a settlement that a court approves. Until one of those happens, any website or email claiming to let Costco members "join" or "sign up" for this specific case is not tied to an actual claims process, because none exists yet for *Brunker v. Costco Wholesale Corp.*.
What an Eligible Costco Member Can Do Now
The practical step available today is monitoring, not filing. Court watchers can track docket No.
3:26-cv-02035 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, or follow the plaintiffs' law firm, to see when a certification order or settlement notice is issued, since that filing is what would open an actual claims process. A few things to keep in mind while watching the case develop:.
- The allegations in the complaint are contested and unproven at this stage; Costco has not yet filed a formal response.
- Only Oregon members with membership activity on or after October 1, 2025 currently fall within the stated class definition.
- A certification order or settlement notice, not the original filing, is the event that would create a real claim form.
- No current website should be treated as an official claims portal for this case unless it is tied to a court-approved settlement or certification order.
A Different Costco Shrimp Lawsuit Is Not This Case
Readers researching Costco and forced labor may come across an older, separate lawsuit, *Sud v. Costco Wholesale Corp.*, filed in the Northern District of California in 2015. That case accused Costco of selling Thai-farmed prawns linked to forced labor and sought refunds for California purchasers along with an injunction against CP Foods products, according to Courthouse News Service's coverage of the filing.
That 2015 case is unrelated to the 2026 Oregon filing and offers no joining mechanism for Brunker v. Costco. At the time, Costco responded by stating it was working with the Thai government, industry groups, and other retailers on supply-chain labor issues, rather than admitting liability, per a summary from CPM Legal. Anyone searching for a claims process tied to the current Kirkland allegations should not confuse the two cases or assume one feeds into the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Costco members outside Oregon join this lawsuit?
Not under the current complaint. The proposed class is limited to Oregon residents who held or renewed a Costco membership on or after October 1, 2025.
Has Costco responded to the allegations?
As of the filing, Costco had not yet filed a formal response in the case.
How much money could eligible class members receive?
The complaint seeks $200 in statutory damages per eligible class member, plus punitive damages and refunds, though none of this has been awarded or approved by a court.