Before disbursing the funds, the judge must review the proposed compensation and confirm that it is an appropriate settlement of the case. Even if the parties settle before trial, the court must still approve the settlement agreement.
The lead plaintiffs, the participants, and the lawyers who worked on the lawsuit split the compensation. Each person's payoff depends on the number of lead plaintiffs, injured plaintiffs, and class members. The lead plaintiffs typically have the worst injuries and the greatest damages. Payments may come in sums or structured settlements.