Class member

A class member is any person who fits the definition of the group covered by a class action or settlement. You do not have to file the lawsuit yourself to be a class member. If you match the description the court approves, you are usually included automatically unless you opt out.

The class definition normally describes who qualifies by what happened to them and when. For example, it might cover everyone who bought a specific product during a set date range, known as the class period.

As a class member, you typically have a few choices. You can file a claim to seek a payment, do nothing, object to the terms, or opt out to keep your right to sue separately.