Can I Use PACER to Look Up Class Actions?

Short answer: Yes. PACER is the federal court system's public database. You can search by party name, case caption, or case number — and view the full docket, motions, settlement papers, and final approval orders for any class action filed in federal court. PACER costs $0.10 per page (capped at $3 per document) with the first $30/quarter free.

For state-court class actions, each state has its own electronic records system — some free (Florida, New York), some paid (Texas, California). Use the state's official judicial website to access.

1. Register at pacer.uscourts.gov. Free, takes ~5 minutes. You'll need a credit card on file (you're only charged for actual document views, not searches).
2. Search by party name — e.g., "Amazon" or "Comcast". You can narrow by court and date range.
3. Pick the specific case from the search results. Each case shows party names, case caption, filing date, and case status.
4. View the docket — a chronological list of every filing in the case. Each entry has a link to the actual document.
5. Click documents to view. Costs $0.10/page, capped at $3 per document. Settlement notices and orders are usually 5-30 pages.

First $30/quarter is free, so for occasional research, you may never pay anything.

• The original complaint — what the case is actually about.
• Class certification motion and order — whether and when the class was certified.
• Settlement agreement — the full terms, including attorney fees and per-person allocation.
• Notices to class members — the same documents the administrator mails out.
• Fairness hearing transcript — what arguments were made for/against approval.
• Final approval order — the judge's written decision.

PACER is sometimes inconvenient. Free alternatives that mirror selected case content:

• CourtListener (Free Law Project) — courtlistener.com has free PACER documents for many cases, especially high-profile ones.
• Justia — justia.com has docket summaries and links to documents for many federal cases.
• Settlement-specific websites — the official settlement administrator's site is the best source for case-specific documents (notice, claim form, settlement agreement).
• News archives — Reuters, Law360, Bloomberg Law cover major class actions; their stories often link to or summarize key documents.

Is PACER access really worth $0.10/page?

For occasional research, yes — and the first $30/quarter is free, so you may never actually pay.

Can I look up class actions in state court?

Yes, but the system varies by state. Florida and New York have free statewide e-filing systems. Texas (re:SearchTX), California (Odyssey eCourts), and others charge small fees per document.

How do I find a specific class action without knowing the case name?

Search PACER by defendant name plus a relevant year range. You'll get a list of all cases matching.

Can I file a class action through PACER?

No — PACER is read-only for the public. Filing happens through the federal CM/ECF system, which is for attorneys and pro-se litigants.

Never miss another deadline

Class Action Buddy notifies you when settlements you qualify for open — and auto-fills the claim form in 60 seconds.

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