Glossary Archive

C

Claim form A claim form is the document you submit to a settlement administrator to request your share of a settlement.
Claims Aggregator (Claim Farms and Third-Party Filers) Claims aggregator is an informal term for a business or service that helps submit settlement claims for multiple people, sometimes in large batches. The related phrase…
Class action A class action is a lawsuit where one or a few people sue on behalf of a larger group who were affected in a similar way.
Class Certification Class certification is the court’s formal decision that a lawsuit can move forward as a class action instead of as one person’s individual case. Until a…
Class member A class member is anyone who falls within the group of people a class action or settlement is meant to cover.
Class period The class period is the specific range of dates during which you must have been affected to qualify for a settlement.
Court-Authorized Settlement Website Court-authorized settlement website means a website identified in a court-approved notice plan for a particular class action settlement. It gives potential class members a central place…
Cy pres Cy pres refers to leftover settlement money that is donated to a relevant nonprofit or cause when it cannot practically be distributed to class members.

Documented Loss Learn what a documented loss means in a settlement claim, which records may support it, and why payment rules differ from one settlement to another.

Fairly Traceable Learn what fairly traceable means in federal standing and settlement claims, how it differs from proximate cause, and why official terms control.
Final approval hearing A final approval hearing is the court date when a judge decides whether to approve a proposed class action settlement.

Lost Time Payment (Time Spent) A lost time payment, sometimes called time spent compensation, is a settlement benefit that may reimburse eligible class members for reasonable time spent completing tasks covered…

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Multidistrict litigation, or MDL, is a federal procedure that consolidates many separate but related lawsuits — often filed by plaintiffs across different states — into a…

Named Plaintiff A named plaintiff is the person, or small group of people, whose name actually appears on a class action lawsuit. Also called the lead plaintiff or…
NAUPA NAUPA stands for the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, a network within the National Association of State Treasurers that supports government unclaimed property programs and…

Objection An objection is a formal statement to the court by a class member who thinks a proposed settlement is unfair or should be changed.
Opt-out (exclusion) Opting out, also called requesting exclusion, means formally removing yourself from a class action so you keep the right to sue on your own.
Out-of-Pocket Losses Learn what out-of-pocket losses mean in settlement claims, which expenses may qualify, what proof may be required, and why each notice controls.

PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) PAGA stands for the Private Attorneys General Act, a California law that lets an eligible employee seek civil penalties for certain Labor Code violations on behalf…
Payment Election Learn what a payment election means, which settlement payment methods may be offered, and what to check before choosing how to receive your money.
Pro rata payout A pro rata payout means the settlement money is split proportionally, so each valid claim is scaled up or down to fit the available fund.
Proof of purchase Proof of purchase is documentation, like a receipt or order confirmation, that shows you bought a product or used a service covered by a settlement.

Reasonable Documentation Learn what reasonable documentation means in a settlement claim, which records may qualify, and why the official claim instructions control.

Service Award (Incentive Award) Learn what a class action service award is, why courts scrutinize it, how it differs from class payments, and why availability varies.
Settlement administrator A settlement administrator is the neutral company a court approves to run a settlement, review claims, and send payments.
Settlement fund A settlement fund is the total pool of money a defendant agrees to pay to resolve a class action, which is then divided among eligible claimants.
Settlement Tiers Learn how settlement tiers divide benefits by eligibility or proof and why each settlement's official documents determine the available payment levels.

The “Do Nothing” Option Learn what the do nothing option means in a class action settlement and how it may affect payment eligibility, legal rights, and released claims.
Typosquatting (Lookalike Settlement Sites) Typosquatting is the practice of registering a domain name that closely resembles a legitimate website address, often by changing, adding, or removing a character or using…

Verification Notice Learn what a settlement verification notice means, why an administrator may send one, and how to confirm it is legitimate before responding.