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…
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Bloomberg Law
Class Settlement Flaw Exposed in Case Over Smart Phone Batteries
Bloomberg Law discusses our ninth-circuit appeal in the lithium ion antitrust litigation: A possible vehicle for federal courts to revisit the inconsistent treatment…
Bloomberg Law
DOJ Interest in Wine, Opioids Casts Shadow Over Class Suits
Bloomberg Law discusses how government scrutiny could lead to tighter class action settlements: But Edelson, who readily describes himself as being a contrarian…
Bloomberg Law
DOJ’s Mixed Result in Class Case Still a Win for Business
Bloomberg Law profiles our objection to the Wines Till Sold Out settlement; The department’s arguments against the settlement—which offered high attorneys fees for…
Legal Newsline
State AGs, DOJ oppose controversial Wine ‘Til Sold Out settlement
Legal Newsline profiles the Center for Class Action Fariness’ objection in the Wines Till Sold Out class action litigation The Competitive Enterprise Institute’s…
News Release
Supreme Court Grants Cert for CEI in Google Privacy Case Frank v. Gaos
CEI Director of Litigation and petitioner Ted Frank said, "We are hopeful that the Supreme Court’s review will result in a standard forbidding attorneys from misusing…
News Release
CEI Objects to Bank of America Class Action Settlement
The Competitive Enterprise Institute objected on behalf of a class member in Farrell v. Bank of America, a class action in which plaintiffs’ counsel sought attorneys’…