Rule 1.273 Costs

If a lawsuit involves a group of people suing as a class (a "plaintiff class"), not everyone in that group has to worry about paying court costs if the case doesn't go their way. Only the people who are officially representing the class, or who joined the case on their own, can be held responsible for those costs. Other class members who didn't take an active role won't be stuck with the bill.

When a group of people is being sued as a class (a "defendant class"), the court decides how to split up the costs among them if costs are awarded. The judge has the job of figuring out a fair way to divide that responsibility.

Finally, if someone had to pay money upfront to send notice to class members (as required under rule 1.266), they can get that money back as part of the costs if they win the case. This means the winning side isn't stuck covering the cost of notifying everyone out of their own pocket.