GAME CHANGER OF THE YEAR

Lawyers​ ​Give​ ​Back,​ ​a​ ​program​ ​initiated​ ​by​ ​Dworken​ ​and​ ​Bernstein,​ ​explains “sigh-pray”​ ​–​ ​from​ ​the​ ​French​ ​phrase​ ​“near​ ​as​ ​possible”​ ​–​ ​this​ ​way:​ ​”When a​ ​class​ ​action​ ​is​ ​settled,​ ​plaintiff​ ​and​ ​defendant​ ​agree​ ​to​ ​a​ ​fund​ ​amount​ ​to​ ​pay all​ ​class​ ​members.​ ​Since​ ​many​ ​class​ ​members​ ​have​ ​moved,​ ​passed​ ​away,​ ​or can’t​ ​be​ ​found,​ ​millions​ ​of​ ​settlement​ ​dollars​ ​go​ ​unclaimed.

“That​ ​settlement​ ​money​ ​is​ ​intended​ ​to​ ​benefit​ ​the​ ​class​ ​–​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​revert​ ​to the​ ​wrongdoing​ ​defendant​ ​–​ ​so​ ​the​ ​ancient​ ​doctrine​ ​is​ ​now​ ​being​ ​used​ ​to distribute​ ​the​ ​unclaimed​ ​money​ ​to​ ​charities​ ​and​ ​nonprofits.”

Some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lake​ ​County​ ​organizations​ ​benefiting​ ​from​ ​Dworken​ ​and Bernstein’s​ ​sigh-pray​ ​efforts​ ​include​ ​Crossroads,​ ​United​ ​Way​ ​of​ ​Lake​ ​County, Hannah’s​ ​Home,​ ​Forbes​ ​House,​ ​the​ ​Lake​ ​County​ ​Free​ ​Clinic ​and​ ​Lake County​ ​Historical​ ​Society.

What makes someone worthy of the Game Changer Award?

Judging is based on the following criteria:

1. Reside in or have a business located in Lake or Geauga County
2. Be a cutting edge, forward thinking individual, business or business group that has “Changed the Conversation” resulting in casting Lake or Geauga County in a positive light
3. Successfully completed one of the following:
   • Improved or renovated a process
   • Changed the delivery of service
   • Demonstrated cutting edge thought in some aspect of technology or manufacturing
   • Invented or created a new product
   • Started a unique business to meet the need of our changing economy

The Game Changer Award is sponsored by: