Carmel Valley resident Frederick Schenk, a senior partner with Casey Gerry Reed & Schenk, has been named secretary of the board of directors of the Civil Justice Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing consumer injury and defending consumer access to justice.

As secretary of the Foundation, Schenk will provide his expertise and support to an organization which has awarded more than $1 million in grants to dozens of grassroots consumer advocacy groups seeking systematic change.

Founded in 1986 by members of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), the Civil Justice Foundation raises money and provides grants to grassroots organizations throughout North America. Recent grant recipients include the Gray Panthers and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways.

“Though modest in size, these grants are important as they exemplify ATLA’s and the Foundation’s commitment of preventing consumer injury and protecting access to justice,” Schenk said.

An attorney with San Diego-based Casey Gerry Reed & Schenk since 1983, Schenk has extensive experience in products liability, personal injury, asbestos law and drug litigation. He has been recognized by San Diego Magazine as the top local plaintiffs, personal injury attorney specializing in asbestos litigation, and was awarded the Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award by Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. He has served as president of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego and was recognized as Chapter President of the Year by the Consumer Attorneys of California.

He is also past-president of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, and was a founding co-chair of the Cardozo Society of the United Jewish Federation, which promotes Jewish learning, continuing legal education, and networking for Jewish attorneys in San Diego.

A resident of Carmel Valley, Schenk earned his law degree from the University of San Diego and his bachelor’s degree from UCLA.