If You Were Admitted Into The Bexar County Adult Detention Center From November 15, 2005 To April 9, 2009 For a Misdemeanor Offense And Were Strip Searched as Part of the Admissions Process, Your Rights Could Be Affected By A Proposed Class Action Settlement.
A class action settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit pending against the County of Bexar (“County of Bexar” or “Bexar County Adult Detention Center” or “Defendant”) in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (styled Jackson et al. v. County of Bexar, Class Action Case No. SA-07-CV-928) alleging, among other things, that Detention Officers at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center illegally strip searched individuals upon their admission to the Detention Center who were charged solely with misdemeanor offenses (such as disorderly persons offenses, traffic infractions, and/or civil commitments) and not felony offenses, in violation of the unreasonable search provisions of the United States Constitution, according to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center strip search class action settlement notice.
Bexar County Adult Detention Center strip search class action lawsuit settlement class members reportedly include the following persons, unless otherwise excluded:
All persons who 1) were a pretrial detainee confined to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center between November 15, 2005 and April 9, 2009; 2) who were booked with a misdemeanor offense, misdemeanor violation of probation or parole, traffic infraction or other minor crime, or held on a civil matter, and not charged with a felony offense; AND 3). who were subjected to a strip search before being sent to jail housing after being booked. (“Sublcass I”)
All persons in the Settlement Class who were admitted on misdemeanor charges of narcotics, shoplifting and weapons violations. (“Subclass II”)
The Bexar County Adult Detention Center Strip Search settlement reportedly does NOT cover individuals charged with felony offenses at the time of their entry into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, anyone who entered the Detention Center after being convicted of (as compared to only being charged with) a crime, or anyone who entered the Detention Center but was not strip searched as part of the Detention Center’s booking procedure.
The Bexar County Adult Detention Center Strip Search class action settlement reportedly provides that Defendant has agreed to pay at least $3,000,000.00 to resolve this litigation. The Defendant is currently engaged in an insurance coverage dispute with its excess insurance carriers relating to this case that may yield an additional $2,500,000.00 which, if successfully recovered, will also be paid to resolve this litigation. All monies paid to resolve the litigation will reportedly be used to: a) compensate Settlement Class Members; b) pay for notifying Settlement Class Members and administering the settlement; c) pay incentive awards to the named Plaintiffs and d) pay attorneys’ fees and expenses. To qualify for a settlement payment, settlement class members MUST send in a Claim Form postmarked no later than March 16, 2011.
On January 12, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas is scheduled to hold a settlement fairness hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, 655 East Durango Blvd., San Antonio, Texas, in Courtroom Two to determine whether the Class was properly certified and whether the proposed Bexar County Adult Detention Center Strip Search class action settlement is fair, adequate, and reasonable.
For more information on the Bexar County Adult Detention Center Strip Search class action lawsuit settlement and/or for updates on the Bexar County Adult Detention Center Strip Search class action settlement, visit the Bexar class action settlement website:
www.bexarcountystripsearch.com
If You Have Thoughts On The Bexar County Adult Detention Center Strip Search Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, Share Your Class Action Comments Below.