How Long Does a Class Action Take?

How Long Does a Class Action Take?

Every class action is different and estimating how long a particular lawsuit will last is impossible. Class actions generally go through several stages, and the time required for each stage varies greatly from case to case.

Factors that affect how long a case will take include the strength of the plaintiff’s case, the complexity of the facts and/or law at issue, and how aggressively the defendant chooses to oppose the lawsuit. For example, a defendant may decide to settle a case early on and agree to class certification so that all class members benefit from the settlement. Or, a defendant may decide to aggressively oppose the class action at every stage, which could drag out the case for years.

Overall, class actions can resolve within months or take many years. However, they typically resolve within two to three years.