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.”
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Reason
Photos Show the Transformation of Great Britain
Not so long ago, Great Britain was deemed “the sick man of Europe.” The 1970s were plagued by inflation, labor union strikes, and a rise…
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…
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News Release
CEI Objects to Unfair Petrobras Settlement that Groups U.S. and Foreign Purchasers Together, Attorneys Overbill Class by $100M
Yesterday evening, the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s (CEI) Center for Class Action Fairness objected on behalf of a class member to an unfair settlement and an excessive attorneys’…
Litigation
In re Petrobras Securities Litigation
In this class action plaintiffs alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Securities Act of 1933 arising from allegedly material misstatements…
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…