Unfair settlements generally serve self-interested lawyers and third parties at the expense of absent class members, the group of people whose rights are traded away to settle a class action. Lawyers have an interest in their fees, defendants have an interest in cheaply disposing of a lawsuit, and the class’ interests can take a back seat in the process. CCAF seeks to solve these problems by representing such class members pro bono and presenting judges with the other side of the argument. When CCAF prevails, lawyers get less, class members get more, and the rule of law is strengthened.
The New York Times says CCAF’s Ted Frank is “the leading critic of abusive class action settlements,” while Reuters called him a “class action maverick” and “among class action lawyers’ most feared objectors.”
Featured Posts

News Release
CEI Disappointed in Outcome of Supreme Court Decision in Class Action Settlement Case, Frank v. Gaos, but Hopeful for Future Resolution
In Frank v. Gaos, a class action-related case initiated by former CEI attorneys, the U.S. Supreme Court today decided to send the case back to…

News Release
CEI Congratulates Ted Frank and CCAF on the Launch of the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute
Since merging with CEI in 2015, the Center for Class Action Fairness (CCAF) has continued the mission Ted Frank began nearly a decade ago. CCAF has…
Northern California Record
Appeals Court Returns Class Action To Lower Court After Only $225,000 Paid Out To Class Members, But $12M Awarded To Attorneys And Third-Party Universities
Northern California Record cited CEI’s Attorney Adam Schulman on Ninth Circuit Frank v. Gaos decision. In its decision based on the objection by…
Search Posts
Blog
Q&A on Frank v. Gaos, Class Action Lawsuit Headed to Supreme Court
Q: What is the main question at issue in Frank v. Gaos? A: The Supreme Court will consider whether a class action settlement is fair under…
Law360
Disputers Of Google Privacy Deal Cite 9th Circ. Award Ruling
Law360 cited CEI Senior Attorneys Ted Frank and Melissa Holyoak on Frank v. Gaos. “Challengers to Google’s $8.5 million privacy settlement, the fairness…
News Release
CEI Files Brief with Supreme Court Arguing Ninth Circuit’s EasySaver Decision Underscores Need for Proposed Cy Pres Standard
Today the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) filed a supplemental brief with the Supreme Court, arguing the Ninth Circuit’s decision in the EasySaver case earlier this…
News Release
New Video Explains How CEI Is Fighting for Consumers Against Attorney Greed at Supreme Court
Washington, D.C.—In a new video released today by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), Senior Attorney Melissa Holyoak explains how greedy trial attorneys are corrupting our legal system…
Blog
Frank v. Gaos: Fighting to Protect Consumers from Greedy Attorneys
Our class action legal team here at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Center for Class Action Fairness, has a new video explainer on their…
Blog
U.S. Government Weighs in on ‘Cy Pres’ Abuse in Frank v. Gaos
On October 31, 2018, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Frank v. Gaos. The petitioners are class members challenging a class action…