ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Community Legal Services (CLS) recently received a Cy Pres award for $43,803.54 from the undistributed funds of a class action lawsuit concerning tenants’ rights. Attorneys Joseph M. Sternberg and Robert Murphy represented the tenants of the Grand Reserve at Lee Vista in the class action lawsuit in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Orange County, Florida.
The case, Butcher et al. v Antigua Club Associates, LTD., et al., involves allegations that the Grand Reserve at Lee Vista imposed termination fees amounting to unlawful liquidated damage fees without providing sufficient notice or a list of all fees applicable to the tenants. The Court approved a settlement agreement in which CLS became the Cy Pres recipient of the funds left unclaimed by class members.
CLS Chief Program Officer, Danielle Harris, recognized the attorneys Robert Murphy and Joseph Sternberg who represented the plaintiffs. “We appreciate all the work you and your team do to bring justice for tenants through class actions. We are grateful for your consideration of CLS for the Cy Pres award from this action. Your support of CLS allows us to continue to serve those in the community with their civil legal needs helping to maintain their families, health and livelihood.”
Cy Pres, a French term translating to “as near as possible,” is a legal principle enabling the unclaimed funds from a class action lawsuit to benefit nonprofit organizations serving the interests of the class members. CLS’s receipt of the Cy Pres award underscores our steadfast dedication and relentless work in addressing legal needs among underserved individuals. It also recognizes CLS’s exceptional commitment to promoting justice and empowering individuals in need through effective legal advocacy.
About Community Legal Services
Community Legal Services aims to enhance the lives of those we serve through accessible legal support, assistance, and education. We call it “Legal Access for All”. As a PILLAR in the community since 1966, our dedicated staff attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, and advocates have worked diligently to solve civil legal problems that impact the daily lives of Central Florida residents.