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
• Jeffrey L. Newsome II, Varnell & Warwick P.A.
• 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
• Brian W. Warwick, Varnell & Warwick P.A.