Rule 23.Class Actions

Group IV: Parties · Last amended March 1, 2011 · Last verified July 15, 2026

In one sentenceRule 23 governs North Dakota class actions under a framework built on the Uniform Law Commissioners' Model Class Actions Rule rather than the federal class-action rule, setting threshold requirements for bringing a class claim, a detailed multi-factor certification standard, notice and opt-out procedures, and rules for money distribution, attorney's fees, and tolling the statute of limitations.

Full Text of Rule 23

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(a) Commencement of a class action. One or more members of a class may sue or be sued as representative parties on behalf of all in a class action if:

(1) the class is so numerous or so constituted that joinder of all members, whether or not otherwise required or permitted, is impracticable; and

(2) a question of law or fact is common to the class.

(b) Certification of class action.

(1) Unless deferred by the court, as soon as practicable after the commencement of a class action the court must:

(A) hold a hearing and determine whether or not the action is to be maintained as a class action; and

(B) certify or refuse to certify it as a class action by order.

(2) The court may certify an action as a class action if it finds that:

(A) the requirements of Rule 23(a) have been satisfied;

(B) a class action should be permitted for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy; and

(3) If appropriate, the court may:

(A) certify an action as a class action with respect to a particular claim or issue;

(B) certify an action as a class action to obtain one or more forms of equitable, declaratory, or monetary relief; or

(1) In determining whether the class action should be permitted for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy, as appropriately limited under Rule 23(b)(3), the court must consider, and give appropriate weight to, the following and other relevant factors:

(A) whether a joint or common interest exists among class members;

(B) whether prosecuting separate actions by or against individual class members would create a risk of inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to individual class members that would establish incompatible standards of conduct for a party opposing the class;

(C) whether adjudications with respect to individual class members as a practical matter would be dispositive of the interests of other members not parties to the adjudication or substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their interests;

(D) whether a party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds that apply generally to the class, so that final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief is appropriate with respect to the class as a whole;

(E) whether common questions of law or fact predominate over any questions affecting only individual members;

(F) whether other means of adjudicating the claims and defenses are impracticable or inefficient;

(G) whether a class action offers the most appropriate means of adjudicating the claims and defenses;

(H) whether members not representative parties have a substantial interest in individually controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions;

(I) whether the class action involves a claim that is or has been the subject of a class action, a government action, or other proceeding;

(J) whether it is desirable to bring the class action in another forum;

(K) whether management of the class action poses unusual difficulties;

(L) whether any conflict of laws issues involved pose unusual difficulties; and

(M) whether the claims of individual class members are insufficient in the amounts or interests involved, in view of the complexities of the issues and the expenses of the litigation, to afford significant relief to the class members.

(2) In determining under Rule 23(b)(2)(B) that the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class, the court must find that:

(A) the attorney for the representative parties will adequately represent the interests of the class;

(B) the representative parties do not have a conflict of interest in the maintenance of the class action; and

(C) the representative parties have or can acquire adequate financial resources, considering Rule 23(q), to assure that the interests of the class will not be harmed.

(d) Order on certification.

(1) The certification order must describe the class and state:

(A) the relief sought;

(B) whether the action is maintained with respect to particular claims or issues; and

(2) The order certifying or refusing to certify a class action must state the reasons for the court's ruling and its findings on the factors listed in Rule 23(c)(1).

(3) An order certifying or refusing to certify an action as a class action is appealable.

(4) Refusal of certification does not terminate the action, but does preclude it from being maintained as a class action.

(e) Amendment of certification order.

(1) The court may amend the certification order at any time before entry of judgment on the merits. The amendment may:

(A) establish subclasses;

(B) eliminate from the class any class member who was included in the class as certified;

(D) change the relief sought; or

(E) make any other appropriate change in the order.

(2) If notice of certification has been given under Rule 23(g), the court may order notice of the amendment of the certification order to be given in terms and to any class members the court directs.

(3) The reasons for the court's ruling must be in the amendment of the certification order.

(4) An order amending the certification order is appealable. An order denying the motion of a defendant class member, not a representative party, to amend the certification order is appealable if the court certifies it for immediate appeal.

(f) Jurisdiction over multi-state classes. (Reserved).

(g) Notice of action.

(1) Following certification, the court by order, after hearing, must direct the giving of notice to the class.

(2) The notice, based on the certification order and any amendment of the order, must include:

(A) a general description of the action, including the relief sought, and the names and addresses of the representative parties;

(B) a statement of the right of a class member under Rule 23(h) to be excluded from the action by filing an election to be excluded, in the manner specified, by a certain date;

(D) a general description of any counterclaim being asserted by or against the class, including the relief sought;

(E) a statement that the judgment, whether favorable or not, will bind all class members who are not excluded from the action;

(F) a statement that any class member may enter an appearance either personally or through an attorney;

(G) an address where inquiries may be directed; and

(H) other information the court considers appropriate;

(3) The order must prescribe the manner of notification to be used and specify the class members to be notified. In determining the manner and form of the notice to be given, the court must consider:

(A) the interests of the class;

(B) the relief requested;

(D) the possible prejudice to members who do not receive notice.

(4) Each class member, not a representative party, whose potential monetary recovery or liability is estimated to exceed $100 must be given personal notice, mailed notice, or notice via third-party commercial carrier if the person's identity and whereabouts can be ascertained by the exercise of reasonable diligence.

(5) For class members not given notice under paragraph (4), the court must provide, as a minimum, a means of notice reasonably calculated to inform the class members of the pendency of the action. Techniques calculated to ensure effective communication of information concerning commencement of the action must be used. The techniques may include personal notice, mailed notice, or notice via third-party commercial carrier, newspaper, television, radio, posting in public or other places, and distribution through trade, union, public interest, or other appropriate groups.

(6) The plaintiff must advance the expense of notice under this subdivision if no counterclaim is asserted. If a counterclaim is asserted the expense of notice must be allocated as the court orders in the interest of justice.

(7) The court may order that steps be taken to minimize the expense of notice.

(h) Exclusion.

(1) A member of a plaintiff class may elect to be excluded from the action unless:

(A) the member is a representative party;

(B) the certification order contains an affirmative finding under Rule 23(c)(1)(A), (B), or (C); or

(2) Any member of a plaintiff class entitled to be excluded under paragraph (1) who files an election to be excluded, in the manner and in the time specified in the notice, is excluded from and not bound by the judgment in the class action.

(3) The elections must be made a part of the record in the action.

(4) A member of a defendant class may not elect to be excluded.

(i) Conducting the class action.

(1) The court on motion of a party or its own motion may make or amend any appropriate order dealing with the conduct of the action including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) determining the course of proceedings or prescribing measures to prevent undue repetition or complication in presenting evidence or argument;

(B) requiring, for the protection of the class members or otherwise for the fair conduct of the action, that notice be given as the court directs, of:

(i) any step in the action;

(ii) the proposed extent of the judgment; or

(iii) the members' opportunity to inform the court whether they consider the representation fair and adequate, to enter an appearance and present claims or defenses, or otherwise to participate in the action;

(D) inviting the attorney general to participate with respect to the question of adequacy of class representation;

(E) making any other order to ensure that the class action proceeds only with adequate class representation; and

(F) making any order to ensure that the class action proceeds only with competent representation by the attorney for the class.

(2) A class member not a representative party may appear and be represented by a separate attorney.

(j) Discovery by or against class members.

(1) Discovery under applicable discovery rules may be used only on a court order against a class member who is not a representative party or who has not appeared.

(2) In deciding whether discovery should be allowed the court must consider, among other relevant factors:

(A) the timing of the request;

(B) the subject matter to be covered;

(D) whether the discovery will result in annoyance, oppression, or undue burden or expense for the class members.

(3) Discovery by or against representative parties or those appearing is governed by the rules dealing with discovery in a civil action.

(k) Counterclaims.

(1) A defendant in an action brought by a class may plead as a counterclaim any claim the court certifies as a class action against the plaintiff class. On leave of court, the defendant may plead, as a counterclaim, a claim against a class member or a claim the court certifies as a class action against a subclass.

(2) Any counterclaim in an action brought by a plaintiff class must be asserted before notice is given under Rule 23(g).

(3) If a money judgment is recovered against a party on behalf of a class, the court may stay distribution of any award or execution of any portion of a judgment allocated to a class member against whom the losing party has pending an action in or out of state for a money judgment, and continue the stay if the losing party in the class action pursues the pending action with reasonable diligence.

(4) A defendant class may plead as a counterclaim any claim on behalf of the class that the court certifies as a class action against the plaintiff. The court may certify as a class action a counterclaim against the plaintiff on behalf of a subclass or permit a counterclaim by a class member. The court must order that notice of the counterclaim by the class, subclass, or class member be given to the members of the class as the court directs, in the interest of justice.

(5) A member of a class or subclass asserting a counterclaim must be treated as a member of a plaintiff class for exclusion purposes under Rule 23(h).

(6) The court's refusal to allow, or the defendant's failure to plead, a claim as a counterclaim in a class action does not bar the defendant from asserting the claim in a subsequent action.

(l) Dismissal or compromise of the class action.

(1) Unless certification has been refused under Rule 23(b), a class action, without the approval of the court after hearing, may not be:

(A) dismissed voluntarily;

(B) dismissed involuntarily without an adjudication on the merits; or

(2) If the court has certified the action under Rule 23(b), notice of hearing on the proposed dismissal or compromise must be given to all class members in a manner the court directs. If the court has not ruled on certification, notice of hearing on the proposed dismissal or compromise may be ordered by the court and must specify the persons to be notified and the manner in which notice is to be given.

(3) Notice given under Rule 23(l)(2) must include a full disclosure of the reasons for the dismissal or compromise including:

(A) any payments made or to be made in connection with the dismissal or compromise;

(B) the anticipated effect of the dismissal or compromise on the class members;

(D) a description and evaluation of alternatives considered by the representative parties; and

(E) an explanation of any other circumstances giving rise to the proposal.

(F) The notice must also include a description of the procedure available for modification of the dismissal or compromise.

(4) On the hearing on the dismissal or compromise, the court may:

(A) as to the representative parties or a class certified under Rule 23(b), permit dismissal with or without prejudice or approve the compromise;

(B) as to a class not certified, permit dismissal without prejudice;

(D) disapprove the compromise; or

(E) take other appropriate action for the protection of the class and in the interest of justice.

(5) The cost of notice given under paragraph (2) must be paid by the party seeking dismissal, or as agreed in case of a compromise, unless the court after hearing orders otherwise.

(m) Effect of judgment on class. In a class action certified under Rule 23(b) in which notice has been given under Rule 23(g) or (l), a judgment as to the claim or particular claim or issue certified is binding, according to its terms, on any class member who has not filed an election of exclusion under Rule 23(h). The judgment must name or describe the class members who are bound by its terms.

(n) Costs.

(1) Only the representative parties and those class members who have appeared individually are liable for costs assessed against a plaintiff class.

(2) The court must apportion the liability for costs assessed against a defendant class.

(3) Expenses of notice advanced under Rule 23(g) are taxable as costs in favor of the prevailing party.

(o) Relief afforded.

(1) The court may award relief that is consistent with the certification order to which the prevailing party is entitled, including equitable, declaratory, monetary, or other relief to individual class members or the class in a lump sum or installments.

(2) Damages fixed by a minimum measure of recovery provided by statute may not be recovered in a class action.

(3) If a class is awarded a money judgment, the distribution must be determined as follows:

(A) the parties must list as expeditiously as possible all class members whose identity can be determined without expending a disproportionate share of the recovery;

(B) the reasonable expense of identification and distribution must be paid, with the court's approval, from the funds to be distributed;

(D) the court must supervise, and may grant or stay the whole or any portion of, the judgment's execution and the collection and distribution of funds to the class members as their interests warrant;

(E) the court must determine what amount of the funds available for the payment of the judgment cannot be distributed to class members individually because they could not be identified or located or because they did not claim or prove the right to money apportioned to them. The court after hearing must distribute that amount, in whole or in part, to one or more states as unclaimed property or to the defendant.

(F) In determining the amount, if any, to be distributed to a state or to the defendant, the court must consider the following criteria:

(i) any unjust enrichment of the defendant;

(ii) the defendant's willfulness or lack of willfulness;

(iii) the impact on the defendant of the relief granted;

(iv) the pendency of other claims against the defendant;

(v) any criminal sanction imposed on the defendant; and

(vi) the loss suffered by the plaintiff class.

(G) In order to remedy or alleviate any harm done, the court may impose conditions on the defendant respecting the use of the money distributed to the defendant.

(H) Any amount to be distributed to a state must be distributed as unclaimed property to any state where the last known addresses of the class members to whom distribution could not be made are located.

(i) If the last known addresses cannot be ascertained with reasonable diligence, the court may determine by other means what portion of the unidentified or unlocated class members were residents of a state.

(ii) A state must receive that portion of the distribution that its residents would have received had they been identified and located.

(iii) Before entering an order distributing any part of the amount to a state, the court must give written notice of its intention to make distribution to the state attorney general of the residence of any person given notice under Rule 23(g) or (l) and must afford the attorney general an opportunity to move for an order requiring payment to the state.

(p) Attorney's fees.

(1) Attorney's fees for representing a class are subject to the court's control.

(2) If under an applicable provision of law a defendant or defendant class is entitled to attorney's fees from a plaintiff class, only representative parties and class members who have appeared individually are liable for those fees. If a plaintiff is entitled to attorney's fees from a defendant class, the court may apportion the fees among the class members.

(3) If a prevailing class recovers a money judgment or other award that can be divided for the purpose, the court may order reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses of the class to be paid from the recovery.

(4) If the prevailing class is entitled to declaratory or equitable relief, the court may order the opposing party to pay to the class its reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses if:

(A) the court finds attorney's fees are permitted by law in similar cases not involving a class; or

(B) the court finds that the judgment has vindicated an important public interest. But, if a monetary award is also recovered, the court may allow reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses only to the extent that a reasonable proportion of the monetary award is insufficient to defray the fees and expenses.

(5) In determining the amount of attorney's fees for a prevailing class, the court must consider the following factors:

(A) the time and effort expended by the attorney in the litigation, including the nature, extent, and quality of the services rendered;

(B) the results achieved and benefits conferred on the class;

(D) the contingent nature of success;

(E) if attorney's fees and litigation expenses are awarded under subparagraph (4)(B), the economic impact on the party against whom the award is made; and

(F) the appropriate criteria in the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct.

(q) Arrangements for attorney's fees and expenses.

(1) Before a hearing under Rule 23(b)(1) or at any other time the court directs, the representative parties and the attorney for the representative parties must file with the court, jointly or separately:

(A) a statement showing any amount paid or promised them by any person for the services rendered or to be rendered in connection with the action and for the costs and expenses of the litigation and the source of all of the amounts;

(B) a copy of any written agreement, or a summary of any oral agreement, between the representative parties and their attorney concerning financial arrangements or fees; and

(C) a copy of any written agreement, or a summary of any oral agreement, by the representative parties or the attorneys to share these amounts with a person other than a member, regular associate, or an attorney regularly of counsel with that law firm. This statement must be supplemented promptly if additional arrangements are made.

(2) On a determination that the costs and litigation expenses of the action cannot be reasonably and fairly defrayed by the representative parties or by other available sources, the court may, by order:

(A) authorize and control the solicitation and expenditure of voluntary contributions to defray costs from class members, advances by the attorneys or others, or both, subject to reimbursement from any recovery obtained for the class; and

(B) apply any available funds that were contributed or advanced to the payment of any costs taxed in favor of a party opposing the class.

(r) Statute of limitations. The statute of limitations is tolled for all class members on the commencement of an action asserting a class action. The statute of limitations resumes running against a class member:

(1) on filing an election of exclusion;

(2) on entry of a certification order or amendment of an order, eliminating the member from the class;

(3) except as to representative parties, on entry of an order under Rule 23(b) refusing to certify the action as a class action; and

(4) on dismissal of the action without an adjudication on the merits.

(s) Uniformity of application and construction. This Rule must be construed and applied to fulfill its general purpose to make uniform the law regarding the subject of this Rule among states enacting it.

(t) Stay on appeal only on court order. An appeal from a district court order certifying an action as a class action or modifying a certification order, or refusing to certify an action as a class action or modify a certification order, does not stay proceedings in the district court unless the district court or the supreme court so orders.

End

Explanatory Note

Rule 23 was amended, effective February 15, 1977; January 1, 1995; March 1, 1999; March 1, 2003; March 1, 2011.

Rule 23 is substantially the same as the Model Class Actions Rule as drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Prior to February 15, 1977, the effective date of this rule, Rule 23 was the same as Fed.R.Civ.P. 23.

Rule 23 was revised, effective March 1, 2003. A new subdivision (t) was added to clarify that an appeal under paragraphs (d)(3) or (e)(4) does not stay district court proceedings unless a stay is ordered by the district court or the supreme court. It is expected that a stay will be sought first from the district court.

Rule 23 was amended, effective March 1, 2011. The language and organization of the rule were changed to make the rule more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules.

The following comments are based on the official Comments to the Model Rule.

Subdivision (a):

This subdivision sets forth the requirements that must be satisfied to authorize the bringing of a class action. Subdivision (b) authorizes the maintenance of a class action.

Subdivision (b):

In connection with the finding under subparagraphs (2)(B) and (C), see paragraphs (c)(1) and (2).

Subdivision (c):

After an action has been brought as a class action, if the court determines that there is an action pending in another court which encompasses the pending class action both as to general class and claim, the court hearing the class action may refuse to certify the action against or on behalf of the class if it concludes that this form is not the most appropriate one. In making this decision, the court must consider the sequence of the suits, the residence of the members of the class, where the transaction or occurrence involved took place, where the relevant evidence is available, and other pertinent facts.

Subdivision (d):

Paragraph (4) presupposes the existence of rules of civil procedure which will allow the action to proceed on behalf of the representative parties as properly joined parties.

Denial of certification and the allowance of a personal action under paragraph (4) does not affect any possible intervention or joinder of class members who are not representative parties under the applicable state laws.

Subdivision (f):

The jurisdictional provisions for multi-state classes were repealed, effective January 1, 1995, to conform with the Uniform Law Commissioners' Model Class Actions Rule, to allow application of the analysis found in Phillips Petroleum Company v. Shutts, 472 U.S. 797, 105 S.Ct. 2965, 86 L.Ed.2d 628 (1985), and to eliminate application of the more stringent "minimum contacts" test to class action plaintiffs.

Subdivision (g):

The hearing required by paragraph (1), if the court wishes, can be combined with the hearing required by paragraph (b)(1).

Subdivision (g) was amended, effective March 1, 1999, to allow notice via third-party commercial carrier as an alternative to mail.

Personal mailed notice to all class members is not required by this Rule. See Grant v. City of Lincoln, 225 N.W.2d 549 (Neb. 1975); Cartt v. Superior Court in and for County of Los Angeles, 50 Cal. App.3d 960, 124 Cal. Rptr. 376 (Ct. App. 1975).

The type of notice to be given may vary as to the persons to be notified, the form of notice, and, to some extent, the content. Paragraph (3) indicates that the court must consider a number of factors in deciding what type of notice to give.

Paragraph (7) would allow the court to order a defendant who has a mailing list of class members to cooperate with the representative parties in notifying the class members. Use of a computer or enclosing notice in a regular mailing are possibilities.

Subdivision (h):

Under some circumstances, members of a plaintiff class cannot elect to be excluded and subdivision (h) is drafted to cover that situation. Such situations might arise in actions comparable to those under Federal Rule 23(b)(1); see 5 James Moore, Moore's Federal Practice § 23.41 (3rd Ed. 2010). In most situations, members of a plaintiff class will be permitted to elect to be excluded.

Subdivision (i):

The rules governing civil procedure in the courts of the State will normally govern procedures in class actions. Subdivision (i) covers certain matters that are found only in class actions and deserve special consideration. Subparagraph (1)(D) does not limit the power of the attorney general to participate in litigation under other provisions of applicable law.

Subdivision (j):

Discovery against representative parties includes the representative parties' fee arrangement with counsel. Disclosure of this arrangement is required under subdivision (q).

Subdivision (k):

The expense of notification of actions involving counterclaims is determined as provided in paragraph (g)(7).

Subdivision (n):

The nature of other costs and assessments against parties in a class action is left to the law generally applicable in the state. Subdivision (n) merely specifies the liability of class members if costs are assessed against the class and provides for assessment of the expense of notification under subdivision (g).

Subdivision (o):

This section incorporates the idea of "fluid recovery," to benefit the class as a whole when distribution of damage awards to individual members is impracticable or a residue remains after distribution. See State of West Virginia v. Charles Pfizer & Co., 314 F.Supp. 710 (S.D. N.Y. 1970); Bebchick v. Public Utilities Commission, 318 F.2d 187 (D.C. Cir.1963), cert. denied 83 S.Ct. 1304 (1963); Daar v. Yellow Cab Co., 433 P.2d 732, 63 Cal. Rptr. 724 (1967).

Subdivision (p):

Courts under this rule have discretion to award attorney's fees in class actions when the class failed to win damages or equitable relief, but the court finds the class action "prevailed" because the suit performed a valuable public service. See Perham v. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., 433 F.2d 421 (8th Cir. 1970).

Most of the factors listed in paragraph (5) derive from Lindy Bros. Builders, Inc. of Phila. v. American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corp., 487 F.2d 161 (3rd Cir. 1973).

Subdivision (q):

Subdivision (q) requires information regarding the arrangements for attorney's fees and expenses to be disclosed in order to assist the court in making determinations as to adequacy of representation by the representative parties and by the attorney for the class, as to any possible collusion between the representative parties and the attorney for the class, and as to any possible conflict of interests among the representative parties and the class members.

Subdivision (r):

American Pipe and Construction Co. v. Utah, 414 U.S. 538, 94 S.Ct. 756, 38 L.Ed.2d 713 (1974), held that the commencement of a class action under Federal Rule 23 suspends the applicable statute of limitations to all members of the class pending a determination of class action status. Subdivision (r) codifies the American Pipe case.

Plain-English Summary

North Dakota's class-action rule has a different pedigree than most states' — the official notes explain that, before March 1977, Rule 23 tracked the federal rule, but North Dakota then adopted the Model Class Actions Rule drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, and it has been amended several times since (1990, 1999, 2003, and 2011) to refine that model. Two threshold requirements open the door under Rule 23(a): the class must be numerous or otherwise structured so that joining every member is impracticable, and a question of law or fact must be common to the class. From there, Rule 23(b) requires the court to hold a hearing and certify or refuse to certify the action, and it may certify with respect to particular claims or issues, for particular forms of relief, or by dividing the class into subclasses.

Certification itself turns on more than the two threshold requirements. Rule 23(c) lists thirteen factors the court must weigh and give appropriate weight to in deciding whether a class action serves the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy — among them, whether separate suits risk inconsistent results, whether common questions predominate over individual ones, whether a class action is the most appropriate way to handle the claims, and whether individual class members' stakes are too small to justify separate suits given the cost of litigating them. The court must also find that the class's attorney will adequately represent the class, that the representative parties have no conflict of interest with the class, and that adequate financial resources exist to protect the class's interests. The certification order itself must describe the class, state the relief sought, and note whether it is limited to certain claims or subclasses; both a certification order and a refusal to certify are appealable, though refusal does not end the underlying action — it only forecloses class treatment. The court may amend a certification order at any time before judgment on the merits.

Once a class is certified, Rule 23(g) requires notice describing the action, the relief sought, and each member's right to opt out by a stated date; any member whose potential recovery or liability tops $100 and who can be located with reasonable diligence must get personal notice, while other members need only a reasonable means of notice under the circumstances. Members who opt out under Rule 23(h) are excluded from and not bound by the judgment, except representative parties and certain members bound by specific certification findings. A judgment in a certified action binds every member who did not opt out. Rules 23(i) through (k) give the court broad authority to manage the action, regulate discovery against absent class members, and handle counterclaims for or against the class. Dismissal or compromise of a certified class action requires court approval after a hearing and notice to the class describing the terms and reasoning behind the proposed resolution.

The rule's money provisions reflect its Model Rule roots. Rule 23(o) lets the court order relief consistent with the certification order, including a version of what the notes call “fluid recovery” — when funds cannot be distributed to class members who cannot be identified or located, the court may direct that money to one or more states as unclaimed property or to the defendant, after weighing factors like unjust enrichment and the defendant's willfulness. Rule 23(p) lists factors for setting attorney's fees for a prevailing class, and Rule 23(q) requires representative parties and class counsel to disclose their fee arrangements to the court. Rule 23(r) tolls the statute of limitations for class members from the time the class action is filed until they opt out, are excluded by a certification order, are dropped from the class by an order refusing to certify the action (except for representative parties), or the action ends without a merits decision — codifying the rule from American Pipe and Construction Co. v. Utah cited in the official notes. Finally, Rule 23(t) means an appeal from a certification ruling does not automatically pause the case in district court; a stay requires a court order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a group have to show to bring a class action in North Dakota?

Rule 23(a) requires that the class be so numerous, or otherwise structured, that joining every member would be impracticable, and that a question of law or fact be common to the class. Beyond that, the court must find under Rule 23(b) that a class action serves the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy and that the representative parties will adequately protect the class's interests, weighing the many factors listed in Rule 23(c).

Is North Dakota's class-action rule the same as the federal class-action rule?

No. The official notes to Rule 23 explain that North Dakota's rule tracked the federal rule only until February 1977, when the state adopted the Uniform Law Commissioners' Model Class Actions Rule instead. The result is a rule with its own certification factors, notice provisions, and money-distribution scheme rather than a copy of the federal approach.

Can I opt out of a class action if I'm a class member?

Generally yes. Rule 23(h) lets a member of a plaintiff class elect to be excluded, unless the member is a representative party, the certification order contains certain specific findings under Rule 23(c)(1)(A)-(C), or a counterclaim is pending against the member's class or subclass. Members of a defendant class may not elect to be excluded.

What happens to class-action money that can't be given to class members who can't be found?

Rule 23(o) directs the court to determine what portion of a money judgment cannot be distributed because class members could not be identified or located, and, after a hearing, to distribute that amount to one or more states as unclaimed property or to the defendant, considering factors such as unjust enrichment and the defendant's willfulness.

Does filing a class action stop the statute of limitations from running for everyone in the class?

Yes, while the class action is pending. Rule 23(r) tolls the statute of limitations for all class members once the action is commenced, and it resumes running for a given member only when that member opts out, is eliminated from the class by a certification order or amendment of one, is dropped from the class by an order refusing to certify the action (except for representative parties), or when the action is dismissed without an adjudication on the merits.

Source & verification. Rule text and the Explanatory Note are reproduced verbatim from the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of North Dakota. Last verified July 15, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: nd class action certification requirementsnorth dakota model class actions ruleopt out of class action north dakotaclass action attorney fees nd rule 23unclaimed class action funds distribution ndclass action statute of limitations tolling nd