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
Law.com
Critical Mass: Roundup Trial Goes to Jury | New Expert Standard in New Jersey | 7th Circuit Fee Focus
Law.com cited CCAF and Senior Attorney Melissa Holyoak on 7th circuit decisions regarding the Roundup trial. Since Richard Posner abruptly retired last year, the U.S. Court of…
News Release
CEI’s Center for Class Action Fairness Appeals Unfair Disclosure-Only Settlement in Pharmacyclics-AbbVie Merger
The Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Class Action Fairness filed the opening brief in an appeal of a “disclosure-only settlement” stemming from the 2015 merger…
Marketplace
AUDIO: Iain Murray Discusses EU Regulators Fining Google on Marketplace
Iain Murray, Vice President for Strategy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, joined Marketplace to discuss the European Commission’s fine of Google.
Law360
State AGs, ABA Press High Court Over Google Privacy Deal
Law360 cited CEI’s Ted Frank and Melissa Holyoak on the Supreme Court privacy settlement with Google. Petitioners Theodore H. Frank and Melissa Ann Holyoak…
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Special Master Tells Class Counsel to Clean Up their Act
Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly cited CEI and Ted Frank on the class action case Arkansas Teachers Retirement System v. State Street Bank & Trust Co.
Law360
Google Privacy Deal Is ‘Clear Abuse,’ High Court Told
Law360 covers CEI’s Supreme Court case Frank v. Gaos. CEI Director of Litigation Ted Frank will be arguing the case before the court and representing himself,…