Saving Charitable Settlements

53 Pages Posted: 8 Sep 2014 Last revised: 11 Oct 2015

Date Written: September 6, 2014

Abstract

This Article defies the conventional wisdom that all charitable distributions from a class action settlement fund are types of cy pres. Instead, it proposes a radical delineation between “cy pres remainders” (meaning settlement funds left over after individual monetary distributions) and “charitable settlements” (meaning money initially distributed to charities as part of class action settlements). While both have cy pres roots, these two settlement structures have been conflated, jeopardizing the potential utility of charitable settlements. After articulating more precise nomenclature for these distinct distribution methods, this Article justifies why we must preserve charitable settlements. This defense is particularly timely, as charitable settlements face growing attacks spurred by Chief Justice Roberts’ comments in the 2014 Marek v. Lane appeal. Once unchained from the strictures of the cy pres doctrine, charitable settlements become a tool to promote the larger regulatory objectives underlying class action procedures, including access to justice and deterrence.

Keywords: cy pres, class actions, remedies, civil procedure, consumer protection, settlements

Suggested Citation

Bartholomew, Christine, Saving Charitable Settlements (September 6, 2014). 83 Fordham Law Review 3241 (2015), SUNY Buffalo Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2014-037, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2492539

Christine Bartholomew (Contact Author)

University at Buffalo School of Law ( email )

School of Law
528 O'Brian Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-1100
United States

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