Objection
An objection is a written statement filed with the court by a class member who thinks a class settlement, or the lawyers' fee request, is unfair.
Also called: objecting to a settlement, class action objection, objector
An objection is a written statement filed with the court by a class member who thinks a class settlement, or the lawyers' fee request, is unfair.
What it means
An objection is a formal statement to the court that a class action settlement, or part of it, is unfair. Any class member can file one. Under Rule 23(e)(5), an objection has to say whether it applies only to you, to a group of class members or to the whole class, and it has to explain the reasons in specific terms.
The notice tells you where to send the objection and by what date. It often asks for your name, your address, a statement that you are in the class, your reasons, and whether you plan to speak at the hearing. Follow it exactly. An objection that misses the deadline or leaves out required details may not be considered.
Objecting does not opt you out. You stay in the class, and if the settlement is approved you are still bound by it and can still file a claim. If you opt out, you are no longer a class member and lose the right to object. The judge reads the objections and may ask the lawyers to answer them at the final approval hearing.
What it means for you
Objecting is for people who think the deal is unfair, not for people who simply want more money. Common reasons include a fee request that looks too big, a payment plan that treats some members worse than others, or a release that covers too much. A strong objection is specific and points to the settlement's terms.
You can object without a lawyer, and you do not have to attend the hearing. Objections are rare. An FTC staff study of consumer class action settlements found that, on average, about 0.0003% of notice recipients objected.
Example
Say a settlement would pay each class member only a few dollars, while class counsel asks the court for a large fee. A class member reads the long-form notice and sends a letter to the court before the deadline. The letter gives her name, explains how she knows she is in the class, says the fee is too high compared with what members get, and says she will not speak at the hearing. She also files a claim, so she is paid if the settlement is approved.
FAQ
No. Objecting keeps you in the class and tells the judge why you think the deal is unfair. Opting out removes you from the class, so you get no payment and keep the right to sue on your own.
Not without the court's approval. Under Rule 23(e)(5)(B), no payment or other consideration may be given for withdrawing an objection, or for dropping an appeal, unless the court approves it after a hearing.
Related terms
- Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, class actions (Cornell LII)
- Manual for Complex Litigation, Fourth, sections 21.633 and 21.643 (Federal Judicial Center)
- FTC staff report, Consumers and Class Actions: A Retrospective and Analysis of Settlement Campaigns (2019)
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.