Class action settlements totaled around $42 billion in 2024 — making it the third year in a row in which these suits have surpassed the $40 billion mark, according to the Duane Morris Class Action Review 2025.
The total for 2024 makes it the third-highest year for class action settlements in the last two decades; behind 2022, which saw $66 billion in settlements and 2023, which ended with $51.4 billion. Overall, the last three years of class action settlements total more than $159 billion.
There were ten class action lawsuits in 2024 with settlements over $1 billion each.
The largest of these was a $10.3 billion settlement against 3M, which was accused by U.S. public water providers of polluting drinking water with toxic chemicals. These funds were awarded to allow cities, towns and other public water providers to test and treat for PFAs, or “forever chemicals,” over a 13-year period.
The report notes that plaintiffs in 2024 succeeded in certifying class actions at a high rate; obtaining or maintaining certification in 272 rulings out of 432 motions, for a success rate of around 63%. The plaintiff’s bar had the highest rates of success with certification in WARN Act, wage & hour and antitrust suits.
The slideshow above illustrates which litigation areas had the highest class action settlement totals in 2024, according to Duane Morris.
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