Cy Press Awards

The American Museum of Tort Law strongly believes that cy pres awards are an invaluable way to honor and advance the interests of class members when complete dispersal of the award or settlement is not feasible. Through cy pres awards, the plaintiffs can provide a collective, continuous service to the public interest.

Because of our work as the nation’s only institution aimed exclusively at educating the public about the benefits of tort law and trial by jury, the American Museum of Tort Law is an excellent steward of cy pres awards.

To recommend the American Museum of Tort Law for a cy pres award, please contact Managing Director Melissa Bird (860-379-0505) or by email at [email protected].

Cy pres awards from class action settlements to the American Museum of Tort Law can provide significant support for The American Museum of Tort Law ’s public education outreach.

The American Museum of Tort Law believes that, when possible, monies recovered in class actions should go directly to the class members themselves. It is inappropriate for a settlement to pay out all or nearly all of the money in cy pres distributions when it is possible to distribute significant sums to the class members themselves. It is also not appropriate for the settling parties to attempt to direct cy pres distributions to personal favorite charities (such as one’s alma mater) that have no relationship to the issues addressed by the underlying lawsuit. And it’s not appropriate to effectively make cy pres distributions to the defendant.

CY PRES DISTRIBUTIONS TO THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF TORT LAW

Because our unique role as the nation’s only institution aimed exclusively at educating the public about the benefits of tort law and trial by jury, a cy pres award to the American Museum of Tort Law can be appropriate in almost all class actions. And because education is our sole focus, parties and courts should understand that cy pres awards to the American Museum of Tort Law will do what they should — serve the class and the public interest.

If you have any questions, need documents or information, or are interested in designating the American Museum of Tort Law as a cy pres award recipient, please contact Managing Director Melissa Bird at 860-379-0505 or by email at [email protected]. Thank you.