Top Class Actions  |  October 6, 2021

Category: Closed Class Actions

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This settlement is closed!

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A Shelby County sheriff's van sits near a brick building - shelby county jail - detention settlement - shelby county lawsuit
(Photo Credit: Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock)

Shelby County Jail inmates detained between Nov. 1, 2016, and March 21, 2021, for longer than they should have been may be eligible for a cash payment thanks to a $4.9 million class action lawsuit settlement.

Settlement Class Members include citizens who were jailed in Tennessee’s Shelby County Jail between Nov. 1, 2016, and March 21, 2021, and were detained after the legal authority for the detention ended.

The Shelby County Jail, plaintiffs allege in their lawsuit, violated both state and federal laws by detaining citizens accused of crimes for longer than they should have been. The plaintiffs attribute the illegal and lengthy detention to a November 2016 implementation and operation of the computer system.

The Shelby County Jail denies any wrongdoing. Further, it denies any liability and claims it was not negligent in implementing or operating the new computer system. 

Together, the men’s and women’s facilities house about 2,000 inmates daily on average, with average yearly bookings of 56,000, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office website.

The Court did not make a determination of guilt in the Shelby County class action lawsuit. Instead, both parties determined that it was in the best interest of all parties involved to agree to a settlement.

As a part of this settlement agreement, Class Members are eligible to receive a cash payment. The total cash payment awarded to each Class Member will vary depending on the amount of time the Class Member was detained and the overall number of Class Members.

If the total number of submitted claims exceeds the net Shelby County lawsuit settlement amount, each Class Member’s award will suffer a pro rata reduction. 

On top of that, some Class Members won’t qualify for compensation if they were only detained for a “relatively short period.” If that detention period is deemed as necessary to process and release the Class Member, then that Class Member will not be eligible to receive the cash payment.

Also as part of the class action settlement agreement, Class Members and all inmates detained in the Shelby County Jail will be eligible for injunctive relief in the form of changes to the administrative process. 

From now on, grievances based on an unfair length of detention will be expedited for review under the county’s emergency grievance review process.

A final hearing in the Shelby County Jail improper detention settlement is scheduled for Nov. 10, 2021.

Class Members who wish to file a claim in this detention settlement must fill out and submit a claim. Without a claim, Class Members won’t be eligible for the cash payment.

The deadline to file a claim is Dec. 30, 2021.

Who’s Eligible

Settlement Class Members include citizens who were jailed in the Shelby County Jail between Nov. 1, 2016 and March 21, 2021, and were detained after the legal authority for the detention ended.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

With the claim form, provide a copy of ONE of the following: driver’s License, voter registration Card, or another form of identification, such as social security card or work identification card.

Claim Form

NOTE: 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

12/30/2021

Case Name

Turnage, et al. v. Oldham, et al., Case No: 2:16-cv-2907, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Western Division

Final Hearing

11/10/2021

Claims Administrator

CMM Settlement Solutions,
P.O Box 341316,
Bartlett TN. 38184-1316

Class Counsel

WATSON BURNS LLC

DONATI LAW PLLC

BLACK MCLAREN JONES RYLAND & GRIFFEE PC

Defense Counsel

SHELBY COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
WYATT TARRANT & COMBS
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS LLP
SPICER RUDSTROM PLLC
BURCH PORTER & JOHNSON
GORDON & REES SCULLY MANSUKHANI
BASS BERRY & SIMS PLC
FARRIS BOBANGO BRANAN PLC
K&L GATES LLP
BAKER DONELSON BEARMAN CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ

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3 thoughts onShelby County Jail Improper Detention $4.9M Class Action Settlement

  1. Shirley Henderson says:

    Add me

  2. Agnes says:

    Add me please

  3. Renae says:

    Add me please

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.