Washington, D.C., gun control $5.1M class action settlement

Update:

• The court granted this settlement final approval on April 4, 2024.
• The claim deadline has been extended to Feb. 10, 2025.
• Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Settlements & Payouts Facebook group.

Washington, D.C., agreed to pay $5.1 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming that it unconstitutionally arrested people for carrying guns outside their homes, violating gun control laws.

The settlement benefits individuals who were arrested and/or prosecuted by the District of Columbia through its Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for violation of the district’s gun control laws outside of their home or place of business between May 15, 2012, and Oct. 10, 2014.

To be eligible for the settlement, an individual must not have had a felony conviction before their arrest or prosecution, been convicted of domestic violence misdemeanor within the preceding five years of their arrest or prosecution, been subject to a judicial order regarding firearm possession at the time of their arrest or prosecution or have been convicted of a felony or violent misdemeanor resulting from their arrest.

Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim Washington, D.C.’s gun control laws, which prohibited individuals from carrying firearms outside of their home or place of business, were unconstitutional. The class action lawsuit challenges arrests and prosecutions resulting from these laws.

The District of Columbia previously passed laws that made it illegal to carry handguns in public and effectively barred non-residents from carrying guns within the district. A federal judge later struck down these laws for Second Amendment violations.

Washington, D.C., hasn’t admitted wrongdoing but agreed to a $5.1 million settlement to resolve the gun control class action lawsuit.

Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive payments based on a point system. Each class member will be allocated one “point” for one or more arrests and one point for one or more prosecutions. Each point is expected to equate to a $1,200 payment — meaning class members who were both arrested and prosecuted could receive up to $2,400. However, these payments may be reduced on a pro rata basis depending on the number of claims filed.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Nov. 27, 2023.

The final approval hearing for the settlement took place Dec. 4, 2023.

To receive a settlement payment, class members must submit a valid claim form by Feb. 10, 2024.

Who’s Eligible

Individuals arrested and/or prosecuted by the District of Columbia through its Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for violation of Washington, D.C.’s gun control laws outside of their home or place of business between May 15, 2012, and Oct. 10, 2014.

To be eligible for the settlement, an individual must not have had a felony conviction before their arrest or prosecution, been convicted of domestic violence misdemeanor within the preceding five years of their arrest or prosecution, been subject to a judicial order regarding firearm possession at the time of their arrest or prosecution or have been convicted of a felony or violent misdemeanor resulting from their arrest.

Potential Award

$2,400

Proof of Purchase

Unique claim ID

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

02/10/2024

Case Name

Smith, et al. v. Government of the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:15-cv-00737-RCL, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Final Hearing

12/04/2023

Settlement Website

SmithvDCSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Smith v. District of Columbia
Class Administrator
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91248
Seattle, WA 98111
info@SmithvDCSettlement.com
877-871-0517

Class Counsel

William Claiborne
CLAIBORNE LAW

Joseph A Scrofano
SCROFANO LAW PC

Defense Counsel

Brian L Schwalb
Stephanie E Litos
Fernando Amarillas
Brendan Heath
OFFICE OF THE DC ATTORNEY GENERAL