About Cy Pres
When the full distribution of funds in a class action settlement is not feasible, courts may designate cy pres recipients — organizations whose work advances the interests of the class and furthers the original purpose of the case. This doctrine ensures that unclaimed or residual settlement funds are applied in a manner consistent with the purpose of the underlying litigation.
Why Designate OneJustice?
OneJustice is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening California’s legal aid system and expanding access to civil justice statewide. Cy Pres awards are appropriate for civil legal aid and access to justice organizations, because every class action case is about access to justice for a group of people who realistically could not obtain the same relief on their own.
Cy pres awards directed to OneJustice advance justice for low-income and underserved community members by:
Building capacity in the legal aid sector: We train and support hundreds of legal aid attorneys and staff across California and nationwide, improving the quality and reach of legal services.
Expanding access through pro bono innovation: OneJustice mobilizes law firms, corporate legal departments, and volunteers to provide critical legal services to individuals who would otherwise go unrepresented.
Serving underserved communities: Our programs address barriers to justice for immigrants, seniors, veterans, and low-income families — populations often aligned with the intended beneficiaries of class litigation.
Supporting state and nationwide impact: By strengthening the legal aid ecosystem, OneJustice ensures that every region of California benefits from high-quality legal assistance. Our reach also extends nationally to grow the capacity of all legal aid.
Cy pres awards enable OneJustice to extend the reach of justice and ensure that residual funds achieve their intended purpose: advancing fairness, access, and justice.
Courts have consistently recognized legal aid and access-to-justice organizations as appropriate cy pres recipients where litigation concerns issues such as consumer protection, housing, workers’ rights, immigration, disability rights, and similar areas of public interest.OneJustice’s statewide reach, cross-sector partnerships, and focus on systemic legal capacity make it a strong and relevant choice for cy pres distributions in these areas.
Contact
OneJustice can provide detailed information and declarations summarizing our appropriateness for cy pres awards to any counsel or court considering OneJustice as a recipient.
For further information or sample cy pres language, please contact:
Zain Tewalthomas, Director of Development and Communications
ztewalthomas@one-justice.org