Consolidated complaint
A consolidated complaint is a single combined complaint that brings together the claims from several related lawsuits over the same conduct.
Also called: master complaint, consolidated amended complaint, consolidated class action complaint
A consolidated complaint is a single combined complaint that brings together the claims from several related lawsuits over the same conduct.
What it means
A consolidated complaint is one combined complaint that gathers the claims from several related lawsuits a court has grouped together. After a data breach or a pricing practice, dozens of separate class actions may be filed. The judge combines them, and the lawyers in charge file a single consolidated complaint for the group.
Federal Rule 42(a) lets a court consolidate actions that share a common question of law or fact. In multidistrict litigation, a Federal Judicial Center guide for judges says consolidated complaints feature prominently. It lists a typical order of events: lawyers appointed, consolidated complaint, motion to dismiss, then class certification. A consolidated complaint can replace the earlier complaints, or it can be only an administrative summary of them. The guide says the parties and the court should make clear which it is.
A case title that begins "In re" (Latin for "in the matter of") often signals combined cases. A consolidated complaint is still just allegations, not proof.
What it means for you
On a settlement website, the consolidated complaint is often one of the listed court documents. It describes the claims and the proposed class for the whole case. The class in the final settlement may be narrower or broader, so the court-approved notice and settlement agreement control who can claim. You do not need to read or do anything with the complaint to file a claim. If you filed or joined a separate lawsuit before the cases were combined, ask your own lawyer how the consolidation affects it.
Example
Say a retailer announces a data breach, and customers in eight states file twelve separate class actions. The cases are moved to one court, and the judge appoints lead lawyers. They file a single consolidated complaint for everyone affected, and the retailer responds to that one document. The case is now titled "In re Retailer Data Breach Litigation," and the earlier complaints no longer drive the case.
FAQ
"In re" is Latin for "in the matter of." Class actions that combine several related lawsuits are often titled "In re [Company] [Issue] Litigation" instead of using one plaintiff's name.
No. A complaint only contains allegations, which the company can deny and the court has not decided. Money becomes available only through a court-approved settlement or a judgment.
Related terms
- Fed. R. Civ. P. 42, Consolidation (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
- 28 U.S.C. § 1407, multidistrict litigation (Cornell Legal Information Institute)
- Managing Related Proposed Class Actions in Multidistrict Litigation (Federal Judicial Center, 2018)
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.