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The City of Jennings, Missouri has agreed to pay $4.7 million to an estimated 2,000 residents it jailed for unpaid court debts, many of them for minor offenses such as traffic tickets.
Non-profit legal groups including ArchCity Defenders and Equal Justice Under Law, along with St. Louis University School of Law brought the class action lawsuit on behalf of eight “impoverished” plaintiffs who had spent time in the city jail, which was described in the class action lawsuit as crowded, foul and unhealthy.
The plaintiffs allege that the city violated their constitutional rights by incarcerating them and others similarly situated in the City of Jennings Jail because they could not afford to pay debts allegedly owed from traffic and other minor offenses.
According to the lawsuit, the City of Jennings caused the plaintiffs and others similarly situated to be allegedly subjected to inhumane conditions of confinement in the jail.
The City of Jennings continues to deny plaintiffs’ claims, and further denies any wrongdoing or liability of any kind to plaintiffs or to any member of the Class.
The settlement deal with the City of Jennings is the highest daily rate compensation in a settlement with a U.S. municipality to resolve incarceration practices of this kind, according to the civil rights attorneys who filed the case.
Under the terms of the City of Jennings class action settlement, the $4.75 million will fund Class Member claims, Class Representative incentive awards, certain administrative costs, and attorneys’ fees and expenses.
Eligible Class Members may obtain a cash payment in an amount calculated based on the number of days served in jail during the Class Period of Feb. 8, 2010 to Sept. 16, 2015, divided by the total number of days served in jail by potential Class Members.
Class Members who wish to object to the terms of the settlement must do so by Oct. 25, 2016.
Who’s Eligible
The settlement Class include all persons, between Feb. 8, 2010 and Sept. 16, 2015 who: were placed and/or kept in the custody of the City of Jennings Jail after being detained pursuant to a warrant issued by the City of Jennings Municipal Court arising from the nonpayment of a previously imposed fine or court costs and who were allegedly subjected to inhumane conditions of confinement in the City of Jennings Jail.
If you are unsure what benefits you are eligible to receive, whether you are a Class Member, or what your options are, you may contact the settlement administrator at 866-236-6721 or email info@JenningsSettlement.com.
Potential Award
Varies.
The calculation of the settlement payment amount you receive will be based on the number of days you spent in jail as well as the number of applicants who submit valid and timely claims.
Proof of Purchase
N/A
Claim Form
Claim Form Deadline
11/24/2016
Case Name
Jenkins, et al. v. The City of Jennings, Case No. 4:15-cv-00252-CEJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Final Hearing
12/14/2016
Settlement Website
https://secure.dahladmin.com/JENKIN
Claims Administrator
City of Jennings Settlement
c/o Dahl Administration
PO Box 3614
Minneapolis, MN 55403-0614
866-236-6721
Email: info@JenningsSettlement.com
Class Counsel
Alec Karakatsanis
EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW
Thomas Harvey
Michael-John Voss
Blake Strode
ARCHCITY DEFENDERS
Brendan Roediger
John Ammann
Stephen Hanlon
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW LEGAL CLINIC
Defense Counsel
Keith Henson
PAULE CAMAZINE & BLUMENTHAL PC
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One thought on Missouri Debtors’ Prison Class Action Settlement
Update please?