Shutterfly hit with class action suit over Lifetouch Family Approval Program

GaryPageau ,

Shutterfly has been hit with a consumer class action suit over its Lifetouch Family Approval Program, a preschool portrait service the lawsuit claims violates the Postal Reorganization Act and California state consumer protection laws, according to Bloomberg Law. The suit, filed in the Northern District of California, No. 5:20-cv-06040, states would-be class plaintiffs Don Cullen and Ellen Ross claim Lifetouch takes unsolicited photos of preschool children in the spring, which are then packaged and sent to parents, requesting payment in kind.

According to the Lifetouch lawsuit, parents are often “blind-sided” when they receive the photos and feel pressured to pay for them “or return them to the school to an unknown fate,” according to Top Class Actions. Cullen and Ross maintain,  despite the spring packages’ unsolicited nature, Lifetouch says any photos not returned must be paid for and they send payment reminders to parents.

Shutterfly has not yet responded to emails requesting comment.

 

 

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Gary Pageau is principal of InfoCircle LLC, continuing his marketing communications career. InfoCircle LLC is a marketing and communications consulting firm, specializing in business-to-business markets. For nearly 25 years, he was with PMA International, serving most recently as Publisher, Content Development and Strategic Initiatives. His primary responsibilities included overseeing the Association’s editorial department, marketing research unit, education and corporate relations department.