Reynolds, et al. v. County of Dauphin, No. 1:07-CV-01688

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Welcome to the Dauphin County Prison Settlement Information Website

A settlement has been proposed in a class action involving the strip search policies of the

Dauphin County Prison(“DCP”).

The lawsuit claimed that Defendant Dauphin County and its Corrections Officers followed an unlawful policy and practice of strip searching all individuals charged with disorderly person's offenses, violations of Title 75 (traffic offenses), Municipal Ordinance infractions and/or other misdemeanors upon their entry into the DCP during the Class period.

For complete information regarding your rights as a Class Member, you should read the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.

 

 

You are a Class Member if:

 

  • You were admitted to the Dauphin County Prison from September 16, 2005 To March 12, 2008
  • AND
  • You were charged with only misdemeanors, summary offenses, violations of probation or parole or intermediate punishment, civil commitments, or minor offenses
  • AND
  • You were strip searched upon entry into the DCP

 

If you are a class member a summary of your legal rights is listed in the table below. For Details concerning your legal rights read the complete, Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT
Submit a Claim Form You must submit a claim form to receive payment under the settlement. You must submit a Claim Form by September 29, 2009, to get any money.
Exclude Yourself

If you exclude yourself from the settlement, you will not be bound by the settlement or judgment and will not be entitled to a cash payment. You will be free to pursue your claims against the Defendant. This is the only option that allows you to bring or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant in this case about the same legal claims that are advanced in this case.You must exclude yourself from the settlement by July 16, 2009.
Object

If you do not exclude yourself, you may write to the Court about why you do not like the settlement or the request for legal fees and costs. You must send a written objection to the Court postmarked no later than July 16, 2009.

Go to a Hearing on

October 9, 2009

You may ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the settlement or the request for fees and costs.
Do Nothing You get NO payment. You give up your right to sue Defendants on these claims later.

What Does the Settlement Provide to Class Members?

Defendants agreed to create a fund of $2,160,500.00 to pay claims to Class Members, (after payment of administrative costs, an incentive award to the representative plaintiff, and attorneys' fees). The amount of your payment will depend on the number of valid claims that are sent in. The maximum payment to any Class Member shall be $1,400.00. You can only make one Claim, even if you were strip searched more than once.