How long does it take to receive payment from class action lawsuit?
John Johnson
Updated on March 15, 2026
about six to nine months
Don’t hold your breath. Assuming there are no further appeals, class members generally receive payment about six to nine months after a settlement agreement is submitted to the court for preliminary approval, says Stuart Rossman, director of litigation at the National Consumer Law Center.
Why are class action lawsuit payouts so small?
The most common reason class action settlement payouts are less than expected is because an unexpectedly large number of Class Members submitted claims. Settlements that do not require claimants to submit proof of purchase or any other form of documentation tend to get a larger number of claims.
Who gets the most money in a class action lawsuit?
injured plaintiffs
Contrary to the picture presented in the media, most of the money in a class action settlement goes to the injured plaintiffs. While the class’ attorneys typically take a percentage, the court will restrict their payment to a reasonable amount.
How is money divided in a class action lawsuit?
Pro rata settlements divide money in a class action lawsuit by splitting the amount equally among the Class Members. The share each Class Member will receive can depend on either the total number of individuals in the Class or by the number of valid claims filed, depending on how the agreement is drafted.
How much do you usually get from a class action lawsuit?
If you have received a class action lawsuit notice, you may have asked yourself the question, “How much money do you get from a class action lawsuit?” According to statistics derived by NERA Economic Consulting, average settlements in the past few years have been about $56.5 million.
Should you exclude yourself from class action lawsuit?
Why would I ask to be excluded? If you exclude yourself from the Class, you won’t get any money or benefits from this lawsuit even if the Plaintiffs are successful in winning the case after a trial or if Plaintiffs are able to reach a settlement in the case.
Is it worth participating in a class action lawsuit?
In general, yes – class action lawsuits are worth it. For Class Members who are able to recover benefits from a class action settlement, all it takes is filling out a claim form and potentially providing documentation. This can allow them to recover up to thousands of dollars in compensation.
