San Francisco — February 6, 2008 — The California Bar Foundation received a $102,088 cy pres award resulting from a consumer rights class action settlement in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division. Co-lead counsel Girard Gibbs LLP, a national litigation firm specializing in class actions and complex business litigation, designated the Foundation as a cy pres beneficiary in the case. With the funds, the Foundation has awarded $25,522 grants to four nonprofit organizations — The Katharine and George Alexander Law Center at Santa Clara University School of Law, Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley, Consumer Action, Inc., and Senior Adults Legal Assistance — working for the protection of consumer rights in Santa Clara County.

"We are honored to receive this cy pres award, which provides a tremendous boost to our efforts to build a better justice system," said Scott Wylie, Foundation president. "Through our grant-making program, we are able to use the funds to support four outstanding organizations that provide needed legal services and education, particularly in the area of consumer rights, to low-income Californians."

"We found the California Bar Foundation to be an ideal recipient of cy pres funds in this class action settlement," said Daniel C. Girard of Girard Gibbs. "Through its extensive network of organizations, the Foundation was able to identify four nonprofits that do significant consumer protection work in Santa Clara County, which was appropriate here. Moreover, because the Foundation provides ongoing oversight of the projects it funds, we are confident that the cy pres funds will be used in the manner contemplated by the court. By partnering with the Foundation, we are able to leverage the Foundation's expertise to ensure that the residual funds in this case are put to good use."

Cy pres awards residual funds that are not directly distributable to members of a class action and are awarded by the court to nonprofit charitable organizations whose work indirectly benefits the class members and advances the public interest. For information about directing cy pres funds to the Foundation, please contact the Foundation's executive director, Leslie Hatamiya, at lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org or (415) 856-0780.

About the California Bar Foundation

The California Bar Foundation is committed to building a better justice system for all Californians. We champion full and equal access to the justice system, invest in the next generation of California lawyers, educate Californians about their rights and responsibilities under the law, and promote philanthropy throughout the legal community. A nonprofit founded in 1990 and affiliated with the State Bar of California, the Foundation annually awards grants to California organizations conducting innovative law-related projects and scholarships to outstanding California law students. For more information, please visit our website at www.calbarfoundation.org.

Media Contact:
Leslie Hatamiya
Executive Director
(415) 856-0780 ext. 303
lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org