Rule 3.770. Dismissal of class actions
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.770
Current text effective January 1, 2009.
#(a) Court approval of dismissal
A dismissal of an entire class action, or of any party or cause of action in a class action, requires court approval. The court may not grant a request to dismiss a class action if the court has entered judgment following final approval of a settlement. Requests for dismissal must be accompanied by a declaration setting forth the facts on which the party relies. The declaration must clearly state whether consideration, direct or indirect, is being given for the dismissal and must describe the consideration in detail.
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2009; adopted as untitled subd effective January 1, 1984; previously amended and lettered as subd (a) effective January 1, 2002; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.)
#(b) Hearing on request for dismissal
The court may grant the request without a hearing. If the request is disapproved, notice of tentative disapproval must be sent to the attorneys of record. Any party may seek, within 15 calendar days of the service of the notice of tentative disapproval, a hearing on the request. If no hearing is sought within that period, the request for dismissal will be deemed denied.
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2007; adopted as untitled subd effective January 1, 1984; previously amended and lettered as subd (b) effective January 1, 2002.)
#(c) Notice to class of dismissal
If the court has certified the class, and notice of the pendency of the action has been provided to class members, notice of the dismissal must be given to the class in the manner specified by the court. If the court has not ruled on class certification, or if notice of the pendency of the action has not been provided to class members in a case in which such notice was required, notice of the proposed dismissal may be given in the manner and to those class members specified by the court, or the action may be dismissed without notice to the class members if the court finds that the dismissal will not prejudice them.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2007; adopted effective January 1, 2002.)
#History
Rule 3.770 amended effective January 1, 2009; adopted as rule 365 effective January 1, 1984; previously amended and renumbered as rule 1860 effective January 1, 2002, and as rule 3.770 effective January 1, 2007.
What this rule requires
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Any party may seek, within 15 calendar days of the service of the notice of tentative disapproval, a hearing on the request. If no hearing is sought within that period, the request for dismissal will be deemed denied.
Service and Proof of Service Rules
If the request is disapproved, notice of tentative disapproval must be sent to the attorneys of record.
If the court has certified the class, and notice of the pendency of the action has been provided to class members, notice of the dismissal must be given to the class in the manner specified by the court.
If class certification has not been decided or required pendency notice was not provided, the court may allow proposed-dismissal notice to specified class members or permit dismissal without notice if it finds no prejudice.
The rule's wording
If the court has not ruled on class certification, or if notice of the pendency of the action has not been provided to class members in a case in which such notice was required, notice of the proposed dismissal may be given in the manner and to those class members specified by the court, or the action may be dismissed without notice to the class members if the court finds that the dismissal will not prejudice them.
Document Filing Requirements
Requests for dismissal must be accompanied by a declaration setting forth the facts on which the party relies. The declaration must clearly state whether consideration, direct or indirect, is being given for the dismissal and must describe the consideration in detail.
Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.