Federal Class Action Statistics 2026 - Key Litigation Trends

After several years of relative stability, federal class action filings jumped in 2025 to more than 12,200 cases, a roughly 25 percent increase year over year and the highest total in at least a decade. The newly released Lex Machina 2026 Class Action Litigation Report examines the factors behind the increase in class action lawsuits and the implications for law offices moving forward. 

Request your copy now on the Lex Machina Litigation Reports page. 

“Our Class Action Litigation Report helps legal teams assess the rising class action risk,” said Eric Wright, senior vice president for Lex Machina at LexisNexis. “As filings increase, customers need clear insight into where cases are being filed, how they are progressing, who the key players are, and where financial exposure is rising. Lex Machina helps firms and in-house counsel assess risk earlier, forecast timing more accurately, budget with greater confidence, and pursue smarter litigation and settlement strategies.” 

Have federal class action lawsuits recently increased? 

Yes, federal class action lawsuits have recently increased. After years of relative stability, federal class action filings surged in 2025 to more than 12,200 cases, marking a year-over-year increase of about 25 percent as well as the highest volume in at least the past decade. This increase reflects renewed litigation activity following pandemic-era disruptions and signals sustained momentum in the years. 

What are the latest trends in class action cases? 

Consumer protection class actions have emerged as the dominant force in federal litigation, accounting for nearly half of all filings over the past decade. In 2025 alone, these cases exceeded 7,600 filings, representing a nearly 50 percent year-over-year increase and fueling the broader rise in class actions. 

Substantial damage awards and litigation timelines in recently terminated class action cases also underscore the heavy financial stakes involved. From 2023 through 2025, courts approved more than $32 billion in class action settlement damages, highlighting the significant financial exposure associated with these cases. Class certification and settlements typically occurred more than two years after filing, while trials took closer to four years. 

At the same time, filing patterns in class actions are shifting across jurisdictions. The Southern District of New York remains the most active district, but the Central District of California is gaining ground fast. Several other major districts are expanding their share of filings.   

What industries are seeing the most class action suits? 

Companies with large workforces and broad geographic footprints have faced the highest number of class action lawsuits in recent years. Leading the list are several technology firms, retailers, financial institutions, health insurers, and manufacturers, including those in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer packaged goods. 

Repeat-player behavior is intensifying with certain plaintiffs, firms, and defendants appearing at unprecedented levels. Data from Lex Machina shows a continued rise in repeat-player activity on both sides of the federal class actions docket.  

Where can I find statistics on federal class action cases? 

In Lex Machina, the LexisNexis Legal Analytics platform, you can find powerful statistics and exclusive insights for filing patterns and litigation outcomes in federal class actions. The service is also available as an API. 

Lex Machina is built on comprehensive information derived from court filings that has been carefully cleaned, tagged, and normalized through a unique combination of artificial intelligence and manual review by subject-matter experts. By extracting key details like motion outcomes, trial verdicts, damage awards, and the attorneys involved, the platform transforms raw court records into structured insights for commercially relevant cases across federal courts and an expanding range of state courts – now including docket-level data for more than 1,300 venues.  

Lex Machina provides detailed information about outcomes in class action cases throughout federal district and circuit courts. 

Legal and risk professionals use Lex Machina to inform decisions throughout the class action lifecycle, from evaluating exposure and estimating claim value to choosing venues, shaping arguments, negotiating settlements, and assessing trial and appellate strategies. The platform also supports business development by helping firms spot high-potential clients, showcase their record of success, and evaluate prospective lateral hires. 

“Lex Machina provides crucial timing analytics, including data on key case milestones, that have transformed our approach to forecasting, calendaring, and legal budgeting,” said Mary Parker, associate attorney at Fields Han Cunniff. “Relying on these timing metrics perfectly supplements our traditional research and gives our firm a competitive edge.” 

Is your law office ready to make data-informed litigation decisions? Visit the Lex Machina product page for more information and to sign up for a demonstration and customized analytical report.