Metro Gang Strike Force Settlement

If you had an encounter with Minnesota’s Metro Gang Strike Force or the Minnesota Gang Strike Force in an incident that involved having your property taken away, you may be eligible to file a claim to have your property returned or receive compensation.

The class action lawsuit, entitled Garcia, et al. v. Metro Gang Strike Force, et al., alleges that officers assigned to the Metro Gang Strike Force seized property without complying with the procedures required under law for a period of 13 years between 1997 and 2010. It also alleges claims for violations of the U.S. Constitution and Civil Rights Act, negligence, assault, false imprisonment, conversion and conspiracy to convert, and liability during this time period. The defendants in the Metro Gang Strike Force class action lawsuit do not admit any wrongdoing or liability, but have agreed to establish a $3 million settlement fund to settle the case. The proposed class action settlement does not mean they are liable for the claims made in the lawsuit.

The $3 million Metro Gang Strike Force settlement will be paid out to eligible class members who submit valid claim forms before the deadline of December 30, 2010. To be considered a class member, you must meet the following criteria:

(1) You were stopped, questioned, arrested, charged, frisked, detained or searched (including but not limited to having property searched or seized), or your dwelling was searched;

(2) by a peace officer or peace officers serving on or assisting the Metro Gang Strike Force or the Minnesota Gang Strike Force;

(3) in an incident where property was taken from one or more of the individuals stopped, questioned, arrested, detained or searched (or during a search and seizure of property belonging to one or more of such individuals); and

(4) the property was taken without a receipt or inventory itemization, or without notification to the property owner of his or her right to contest the forfeiture.

The amount of money you receive from the Metro Gang Strike Force class action settlement will depend on what happened during your encounter with the Metro Gang Strike Force and/or Minnesota Gang Strike Force, which you will describe on the claim form that is available to download from the Settlement Administrator website. You can also request to have your seized property returned, as long as the departments still have the property in possession.

For more information on how to file a valid claim form for the Minnesota Metro Gang Strike Force Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, visit the Settlement Administrator website at www.mgsfsettlement.com.