How do I know if I qualify for a settlement?

Every settlement defines its class in the settlement agreement and the court's orders. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(c)(1)(B), an order certifying a class must define the class and the class claims. The notice then repeats that definition in plain language, usually near the top, under a heading like "Who is included?" or "Am I a class member?"

Here is how a real definition reads. The Apple Siri privacy settlement covered individual current or former owners or purchasers of a Siri-enabled device who lived in the United States or its territories and whose private communications were allegedly obtained or shared because of an unintended Siri activation, between September 17, 2014, and December 31, 2024. It excluded Apple, its directors, officers, and employees, and the judges assigned to the case and their staff and immediate families.

Every piece of that sentence is a test you have to pass. Notice how specific it is: owning the device was not enough on its own, because the definition also required an unintended activation during a private conversation. When a definition includes an experience like that, the claim form usually asks you to confirm it under oath.

If you pass all five, you are likely a class member. Passing all five still does not get you paid unless you file a valid claim before the deadline, in settlements that require one. See how to file a settlement claim.

A notice by email or postcard usually means the company's records list you as a likely class member. Rule 23 requires individual notice to all class members who can be identified through reasonable effort. Notices often include a claim ID and PIN that link your claim to those records.

A notice is not a guarantee, though. Records can be wrong, and the notice itself usually asks you to confirm that you fit the definition. And not getting one does not mean you are out. The Siri settlement website told people that if they did not receive an email or postcard but believed they were class members, they could still file a claim.

Be careful with notices you did not expect. Scammers copy the look of real notices. Check that the website in the email matches the one listed in court records or on our open settlements list, and read how to spot settlement scams.

• Wrong dates. A purchase one day outside the class period does not count.
• Wrong place. Many classes cover only U.S. residents, and some cover a single state, such as cases under Illinois's biometric privacy law.
• Wrong product or channel. Definitions sometimes cover only certain sizes, models, or purchases made for personal use rather than resale.
• Excluded groups. Company employees, officers, affiliates, and court staff are routinely excluded.
• You already opted out. In the Google Assistant case, people who opted out of the certified Purchaser class by September 9, 2024, stayed opted out of the settlement unless they took steps to opt back in, such as filing a claim.
• The deadline passed. You may be a class member but no longer able to claim money.

Two more situations cause confusion. If someone in your household made the purchase, the class definition decides whether you, they, or both of you qualify; many product settlements cover purchasers, while privacy settlements may cover users. And if a class member has died, their estate may be able to file on their behalf, depending on the settlement's rules, which the administrator can explain.

If your situation is borderline, contact the settlement administrator using the phone number or email on the official website. The Google Assistant settlement website, like many others, tells class members not to call or write to the court, because the court cannot answer their questions.

Qualifying matters only if there is still time to act. A settlement's status tells you what you can do:

• Claims open: file on the official settlement website.
• Claims closed, awaiting final approval: you can no longer file, but people who already filed wait for the court.
• Paying out: watch for your payment and cash it before it expires.

Our guide on open vs closed settlements explains each stage, and how to check a settlement's status shows where to look.

Settlements have fixed, written class definitions. Lawsuits that have not settled are different: the class is only proposed, it may change, and injury cases often have no class at all. If you think you were affected by something like a data breach, unwanted robocalls, or a product that injured you, whether you qualify depends on facts a lawyer would need to review, such as dates, records, and the harm you suffered.

A free case review takes about two minutes and connects you with independent attorneys who handle these cases. For open settlements, the only place to file is the official settlement website.