Melissa LaFreniere  |  August 13, 2015

Category: Consumer News

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kids for cash class action settlementA $4.75 million “kids for cash” class action lawsuit settlement over allegations of a kickback scandal has been preliminarily approved by a Pennsylvania federal judge.

The “kids for cash” class action lawsuit alleged that former Judges Mark Ciavarella Jr. and Michael Conahan received about $2.8 million in a kickback scandal which involved the judges moving juvenile offenders from the public system into private detention centers. Former judges Ciavarella and Conahan received lengthy prison sentences over the “kids for cash” allegations.

According to the proposed terms of the “kids for cash” settlement, this deal would also end claims against Robert Powell, the co-owner of the juvenile detention center, for his part in allegedly bribing the two judges who led juvenile offenders into his centers. Powell received an 18-month prison sentence for his actions in the “kids for cash” scandal.

There have been several settlement deals already reached regarding this class action lawsuit. In 2011, the company that built the facilities, Mericle Construction Inc., agreed to a $17.8 million settlement. And in 2013, a $2.5 million settlement ended claims against the parties that owned and operated the detention facilities including Western PA Child Care LLC, PA Child Care LLC, and Mid-Atlantic Youth Services Corp.

U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo stated that the proposed settlement was “fair, reasonable and adequate to plaintiffs and the settlement classes,” although objections to the “kids for cash” kickback class action lawsuit settlement can still be raised before the final approval hearing scheduled for Dec. 16, 2015.

If the “kids for cash” class action lawsuit settlement is approved, Class Members would include all juveniles who appeared before former Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Ciavarella between Jan. 1, 2003 and May 28, 2008 who were adjudicated delinquent.

The potential class action lawsuit settlement would also be open to all parents and guardians of juveniles who appeared before Ciavarella between Jan. 1, 2003 and May 28, 2008, and who, in connection with their juvenile’s appearance: Made payments or had wages, social security or other entitlements garnished or withdrawn; had costs, fees, interest and/or penalties assessed against them or their juvenile; and/or suffered any loss of companionship and/or family integrity.

More information about how to file a claim for the “kids for cash” class action settlement was not immediately available. Keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter for the latest updates. You can also mark this article as a “Favorite” using your free Top Class Actions account to receive notifications when this article is updated.

The plaintiffs are represented by Sol H. Weiss of Anapol Schwartz Weiss Cohan Feldman & Smalley PC, Marsha Levick of the Juvenile Law Center, Daniel Segal of Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, William R. Caroselli, David S. Senoff and Lauren C. Fantini ofCaroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy LLC, Michael J. Cefalo of Cefalo & Associates and Barry H. Dyller of the Law Office of Barry H. Dyller.

The “Kids for Cash” Class Action Lawsuits are Wallace, et al. v. Powell, et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00286, Conway, et al. v. Conahan, et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00291, H.T., et al. v. Ciavarella, et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00357, and Humanik v. Ciavarella, et al., Case No. 3:09-cv-00630, all in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

UPDATE: Claim Forms and other court documents related to the Kids For Cash settlements are available at www.KidsWinSettlement.com. The Proof of Claim Forms must be submitted no later than Oct. 8, 2015.

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6 thoughts on$4.75M ‘Kids for Cash’ Class Action Settlement Preliminarily Approved

  1. Lindsay bell says:

    I never got a paymet only got 1 check of 5000 when I was suppose to get more now 2024 waiting on my award still says I was awarded than I read I’m okay cause I got money in last 2 seatments when I didn’t only got 5000 that was it I was suppose to get on 2nd one 23000

  2. juliajadush says:

    My son Dakota took his life and only received a little over six thousand dollars as if that’s all he was worth its a dam shame what they did they took more than that from me because juvenile probation took seven hundred a month from his social security and ssi which was never paid back

  3. Ivan Vasquez says:

    Of course I am an old case. 94-95 lost kid from east coast who got in the wrong crowd. But no one sat down to open to educate, in this case the parent and the child. Since I recently become fatherless. To show how corrupt the system was in my young years. They waited with me sitting in county a year, to sentence me legit at 17. LOL, I can’t believe they acting as if this just started at 2001 and up. You better go back as far as the early 90s. Sincerely, I.V.

  4. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE: Claim Forms and other court documents related to the Kids For Cash settlements are available at http://www.KidsWinSettlement.com. The Proof of Claim Forms must be submitted no later than Oct. 8, 2015.

    1. ORALIA BRISENO says:

      I just heard about this not to long ago he locked me up when I was pregnant I was 16

  5. Lourdes Best says:

    What a disgrace to the human race!

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