Cy Pres Awards
Bay Area Legal Services is eligible to receive nominations and awards for cy pres funding.
Derived from a French phrase with meaning of “as near as possible,” cy pres awards are often designated when residual funds remain in a class action lawsuit. The resolution for residual funds that cannot be distributed to class members is the selection of a charitable organization that can help prevent similar lawsuits from occurring.
Under the guidelines of a cy pres distribution, the courts approve a charitable organization as the beneficiary of the funds. Bay Area Legal Services is a nonprofit law firm whose objective is to help the most vulnerable members of our community. Regardless of the underlying issue in the class action lawsuit, our organization gives a voice to people who otherwise may not have been heard or represented.
If you, your firm, or someone you know is party to or counsel in a class action case involving a potential cy pres award, you can nominate Bay Area Legal Services as the recipient. Cy pres distributions assist in the life-changing work our attorneys provide to create pathways to justice for the low-income and marginalized communities we serve. For questions about cy pres, please contact our Development Team at development@bals.org.
Thank you to those who obtained court approval and facilitated cy pres awards in recent years for Bay Area Legal Services:
- Daniel E. Bacine, Barrack, Rodos & Bacine
- Gary S. Betensky, Day Pitney LLP
- Luis "Tony" A. Cabassa, Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A.
- J. Daniel Clark, Clark | Martino
- Manuel A. Garcia-Linares, Day Pitney LLP
- Dale T. Golden, Golden Scaz Gagain, PLLC
- Brandon J. Hill, Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A.
- Scott R. Jeeves, Jeeves Law Group
- Jesse S. Johnson, Greenwald Davidson Radbil PLLC
- Chad A. Justice, Justice for Justice LLC
- Matthew T. Peterson, Consumer Law Advocate, PLLC
- Harley E. Riedel, Stichter Riedel Blain & Postler, P.A.
- Craig E. Rothburd, Craig E. Rothburd, P.A.
- Maya S. Saxena, Saxena White P.A.
- Tori C. Simmons, Hill Ward Henderson
- Dennis P. Waggoner, Hill Ward Henderson
Apply for Services
Apply by phone Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or apply online anytime for non-emergency legal matters. Language interpreters are available to you at no cost.
Bay Area Legal Services
If you live or have a case in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee, or Sarasota counties, we may be able to help.
Statewide Legal Helplines
If you live or have a case in Florida, we may be able to help.