Opting out (requesting exclusion)
- You leave the class. You get no money or benefits from the settlement.
- You keep whatever right you may have to sue the defendant yourself about the same claims.
- For damages classes in federal court, the notice must tell you that the court will exclude any member who asks, and the time and manner for asking (Rule 23(c)(2)(B)).
- You usually must send a written request by the opt-out deadline, following the notice's instructions exactly. Some settlements don't accept opt-outs by email (the Wellstar settlement site, for one, says "You cannot opt out by email").
Objecting
- You stay in the class and tell the court why you think the settlement (or the attorneys' fee request) shouldn't be approved.
- Under Rule 23(e)(5), any class member may object; the objection must state whether it applies only to you, to part of the class, or to the whole class, and state the grounds with specificity. Class members may also object to class counsel's fee motion (Rule 23(h)).
- If the court approves the settlement anyway, you are bound by it. In many settlements you can still file a claim and be paid; the Dr. Squatch settlement site, for example, says that if you object, you may also file a claim (official site).
- You can't do both: as the Amazon settlement FAQ puts it, if you exclude yourself from the settlement, you cannot object to it (official FAQ).
Doing nothing
If you do nothing, you stay in the class and are bound by the settlement if it is approved. In settlements that require a claim, you also get no payment. In settlements with automatic payments, you may still be paid.
Watch the dates
Opt-out and objection deadlines are often earlier than the claim deadline. For example, on the official sites the CVS Digital Privacy opt-out and objection deadline was Nov 1, 2026 while its claim deadline is Nov 16, 2026 (official site).
Getting help
We can't give legal advice. The notice lists class counsel and the settlement administrator, whom you can contact with questions. You can also talk to a lawyer of your choice.