The CBF recently received a cy pres award of more than $43,000, the result of residual funds remaining in a class action settlement reached in Murray et al v. Bill Me Later, Inc. In this case in the Northern District of Illinois, McGuire Law, P.C. represented the plaintiff class and Sidley Austin LLP represented the defendant.
While the parties worked diligently to distribute all settlement proceeds to the class, some money was left over in the fund at the end despite our best efforts, said Paul Geske, an attorney at McGuire Law. We were pleased to know that these residual funds will still be able to advance the interests of the class members by improving access to justice in the District Court through The Chicago Bar Foundation.
Cy pres awards have made possible a number of successful court-based projects and initiatives over the past several years and help the CBF to provide ongoing support for these efforts. Examples in the District Court include the Hibbler Pro Se Assistance Desk, the Settlement Assistance Program, and the CBF’s work on the Court’s Pro Bono Advisory Committee, among other programs.
A full list of firms that have helped advance access to justice by suggesting the CBF as recipient for cy pres awards can be found on our website, along with more information on cy pres awards generally.
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