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
Legal Newsline
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Objection of $8.5M Google Settlement; Class Members Get Nothing, Funds Sent to Lawyers’ Alma Maters
Legal Newsline quoted Melissa Holyoak on cy pres abuse in class action settlements. WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Petitioners opposing Google’s settlement of a…
JD Supra
Supreme Court to Decide Permissibility of Cy Pres Awards in Class Action Settlements
JD Supra cited Ted Frank on his objection towards the cy pres-only settlement approved by the Supreme Court. In exchange, Google created an…
Reuters
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Google Privacy Settlement Dispute
Reuters discusses Frank v. Gaos, our case before the Supreme Court that could impact cy pres settlements. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed…
The Wall Street Journal
Supreme Court Will Take a Closer Look at Class Actions
The Wall Street Journal examines cases granted cert before the Supreme Court, including our case examining cy pres settlements, Frank v. Gaos. The…
Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court to Decide on Reining in Class-Action Deals that Only Pay Lawyers and their Favored Institutions
The Los Angeles Times reviews Frank v. Gaos, CEI’s Supreme Court case that examines cy pres settlements. The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider reining in…
The Washington Post
‘Cy Pres’ Settlement Review
The Washington Post reviews the cases granted cert by the Supreme Court, including Frank v. Gaos in which the court will examine cy pres settlements:…