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This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
UPDATE 7:
- This class action settlement is paying out $451 in a second round of payments.
UPDATE 6:
- Readers reported this settlement paying out more than $400 as of Jan. 26, 2022.
- Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!
UPDATE 5:
- The settlement will become effective Nov. 3, 2021.
- First payments are expected to be issued in two to three months.
- Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
UPDATE 4:
- According to the settlement website, the Supreme Court petition will not be decided until October 2021 or later.
- Settlement payments will remain on hold until the petition for review is resolved.
UPDATE 3:
- On May 13, 2021, an objector filed a petition seeking review of the settlement by the U.S. Supreme Court.
- The settlement will not become effective until after the review request is decided.
- Top Class Actions will continue to provide case updates as they become available.
UPDATE 2:
- On Sept. 10, 2020, an appeal to the L.A. Women’s Jail Strip Search Class Action Settlement was filed.
- Claims will not be paid until all appeals are exhausted.Â
- We appreciate your ongoing patience. Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more. Â
UPDATE:
- The L.A. Women’s Jail Strip Search Class Action Settlement was granted final approval Aug. 11, 2020.
- Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
The County of Los Angeles has agreed to pay a total of $53 million to settle class action allegations that women inmates were subject to degrading strip searches while entering or returning to the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, Calif.
The settlement represents the largest payout in the county’s history.
The Lynwood strip search settlement website notes that Class Members include those who were subjected to a strip search in a group outside of the bus garage while entering or returning from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Lynwood Jail between March 5, 2008 and Jan. 31, 2015.Â
Lead plaintiffs claimed that thousands of inmates were subjected to unnecessary and violating strip searches. Plaintiff Jessica Almaraz alleged that she was strip searched a total of five times during her time at the Sheriff Department’s Century Regional Detention Facility.
According to the female inmates, women were often strip searched in groups. They say that they were forced to take off their clothes and be invasively strip searched in front of other women. Allegedly, deputies degraded them and yelled profanity during these searches.
The plaintiffs claim that this treatment violated their Fourth Amendment rights.
Eligible Class Members will be able to receive at least $200 for one strip search, while those who experienced numerous strip searches are likely to end up with thousands of dollars.
Inmates must complete and return a Claim Form to receive monetary recovery. According to the strip search class action, qualifying individuals should have received a Claim Form in the mail. Class Members may also compete a Claim Form online.Â
Class Members can exclude themselves from the settlement, or object to it by June 4, 2020. Those who excluded themselves from the settlement retain their right to pursue independent litigation over the strip searches, but waive their rights to claim benefits from this settlement.
Former inmates who do nothing will receive no benefits, and waive their rights to pursue independent litigation.Â
Class Members can also attend the final approval hearing on July 20, 2020, in which a judge will decide whether or not the settlement will be approved.
Who’s Eligible
Individuals who were subjected to a strip search in a group outside of the bus garage while entering or returning from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Lynwood Jail between March 5, 2008 and Jan. 31, 2015.Â
Potential Award
At least $200 and up to thousands of dollars.
No Class Member who files a claim will receive less than $200 (for one search under the least bad conditions). Persons with the highest number of searches – up to 50 – will likely receive thousands of dollars.
Proof of Purchase
N/A
Claim Form
NOTE:Â If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.
Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Claim Form Deadline
6/4/2020
Case Name
Mary Amador, et al. v. Sheriff Leroy D. Baca, et al., Case No. 2:10-cv-01649-SVW-JEM, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Final Hearing
7/20/2020
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Lynwood Strip Search Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91070
Seattle, WA 98111
info@LynwoodStripSearch.com
1-855-233-1237
Class Counsel
Barrett S. Litt
Lindsay Battles
KAYE McLAN BEDNARSKI & LITT
DONALD COOK ATTORNEY AT LAW
Colleen Flynn
LAW OFFICES OF COLLEEN FLYNN
Cynthia Anderson-Barker
LAW OFFICES OF CYNTHIA ANDERSON-BARKER
Defense Counsel
Andrew Baum
GLASER WEIL
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330 thoughts onL.A. Women’s Jail Strip Search Class Action Settlement
I remember my first night there, I had started my period at another jail. I was transported to the Lynwood women’s correctional facility and I was in with a group of women and we all had to take our clothes off and bend over so they could check us to see if we had anything in our privates. I had asked one of the lady guards for a new pad and told her that I was on my period. She was so rude to me. They yelled at us and I was strip searched every time I came back from court in front of my cell mate. I’m glad they are getting what they deserve.
I sent my claim in… I have my claim # so when will we receive my money?
I filed a claim and would like to know when will I be receiving my funds from the settlement?
I was there it was the most degrading and embarrassing thing I’ve ever been through in my life. I cried every time especially when I was told to bend over take my tampon out in front of everyone. You were told to bend over open your vagina from the back.You could hear the sheriff’s laughing and cracking jokes about our bodies.One time I heard them say damn these nasty bitches stink.They got lysol spray and sprayed it.
It was a very degrading experience I went to court several times so I had to endure this several times…
I never understood why after we went to court they did that. I always asked what is the reason for searching us again when we’ve BEEN in custody going to court. It was CRAZY.
You’re right. It’s gross and degrading.
When will we receive a settlement check NetSpend with Tycho
I was with many women when our rights were violated in these strip searches, butt naked but we never looked at one another either forward or at the wall , the deputies used foul unessassary language esp towards me and i obeyed, never gave attitude, I was put in lock down 24/7 because i took visterals an alternative to help with a good night sleep . I was with all the crazies 51/50 the psychos, i was told to cough and bent over while on my period and to toss my kotex on the right side spread wide and cough harder then i was directed to open my mouth using my same fingers that were on my private with blood driping mind u ,to run through my mouth to conduct the strip search i was exposed to male deputies as well the garage was cold as im anemic , it was held where the buses are stored when not operated ,I did go to court for the settlement approval yes we got justice ….theres more to my experience alot more that’s just 5 percent of what i endured .
Thank you for that. It’s great to know we got JUSTICE. However it doesn’t heal the PTSD from it and the humiliation that came with it as well as the degradation. I’m sorry any of us had to go through that type of abuse.
My first 3 days there i was striped searched 3 times. Then i was moved to high power and i was striped searched 5 more times. It was wrong on so many levels. You never knew when a male/female sheriff may walk past during a search. And then if you didn’t bend over far enough or open wide enough they would make you do it again. The female sheriffs would think it was funny.
It was a very degrading experience it was very embarrassing and it should not have ever happened you were treated like you wouldn’t a dog on the streets
It was embarrassing, and downgrading to go through something like that plus in a place like that .I will never forgot how it made me feel the worst feeling in my life.
It was embarrassing degrading sad especially if your on your period and my body is burnt looks like Franken Stein it made me more sad and embarrassing I felt violated and humiliated
Me to yes it was :(
I happened to be one of the 9 class members. IM JUST LOOKING FOWARD TO PUTTING ALL OF THIS BEHIND ME. THIS WHOLE PROSCESS HAS BEEN SO HECTED. NOT TO MENTION DEGRADEING. IT IS WHAT IT IS. IM A HUMAN BEING.WHO HAD A HICKUP.AT THAT TIME IN MY LIFE.
Did you attend the hearing? Did they approve the settlement? I’m glad you 9 came forward and decided to pursue this. The horrible stuff we’ve encountered there was humiliating to say the least. I wasn’t expecting to be reliving what happened all then years ago but if it brings justice then I’m all for it because this was some asinine shit.
Do anyone know how the hearing went? Did the settlement get approved?
Yes it got approved