IF YOU WERE ADMITTED INTO GEORGE W. HILL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN THORNTON, PENNSYLVANIA, GUADALUPE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO, FRIO COUNTY DETENTION CENTER IN PEARSALL, TEXAS, DICKENS COUNTY DETENTION CENTER IN DICKENS, TEXAS, TRI-COUNTY DETENTION CENTER IN ULLIN, ILLINOIS, AND NEWTON COUNTY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN NEWTON, TEXAS ("JAILS") AND YOU WERE STRIP SEARCHED UPON YOUR ADMISSION TO THE JAIL, YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO A MONEY PAYMENT FROM A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT.
You have reached the master website which is being maintained by the Administrator for the following websites;
www.gwhstripsearchsettlement.com
www.friostripsearchsettlement.com
www.newtonstripsearchsettlement.com
www.tricountystripsearchsettlement.com
www.dickensstripsearchsettlement.com
www.guadalupestripsearchsettlement.com
This is a proposed Settlement of a class action lawsuit alleging that corrections officers employed at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton, Pennsylvania, Guadalupe County Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Frio County Detention Center in Pearsall, Texas, Dickens County Detention Center in Dickens, Texas, Tri-County Detention Center in Ullin, Illinois, and Newton County Correctional Center in Newton, Texas (collectively, the "Jails") engaged in the illegal strip searches of all individuals charged with only minor offenses upon their entry into the Jails. GEO denies that all individuals entering the Jail were strip searched.
The applicable time period is from January 30, 2006 until January 30, 2008 for George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton, Pennsylvania, Frio County Detention Center in Pearsall, Texas, Dickens County Detention Center in Dickens, Texas, Tri-County Detention Center in Ullin, Illinois, and Newton County Correctional Center in Newton, Texas, and from January 30, 2005 until January 30, 2008 for Guadalupe County Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
The proposed Settlement does not include individuals who were convicted at the time of their admission to the Jails and who were committed to serve a sentence for that conviction, or who were not strip searched when they entered the Jails.
The proposed Settlement would entitle each Class Member to a share of a $2.999 million Settlement Fund (after payment of administrative costs, an incentive award to the representative plaintiffs, and attorneys' fees). The proposed Settlement would entitle each Settlement Class Member to a payment of up to $400.00.
Your Legal Rights and Options in The Settlement
| Submit a Claim Form |
You must submit a Claim Form to receive payment under the Settlement. You must submit a Claim Form by September 14, 2010 to receive money. |
| Exclude yourself: |
If you exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will not be bound by the Settlement or judgment and will not be entitled to a cash payment. You will be free to pursue your claims against the Defendant. This is the only option that allows you to bring or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendant in this case about the same legal claims that are advanced in this case. You must exclude yourself from the Settlement by July 1, 2010. |
| Object: |
If you do not exclude yourself, you may write to the Court about why you do not like the Settlement or the request for legal fees and costs. You must send a written objection to the Court postmarked no later that July 1, 2010. |
| Go to a hearing: |
You may ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement or the request for fees and costs. |
| Do nothing: |
You get no payment. You give up your right to sue Defendants on these claims later. |
IMPORTANT DATES
| Deadline to File a Claim: |
September 14, 2010 |
| Deadline to Request Exclusion: |
July 1, 2010 |
| Deadline to Object to the Settlement: |
July 1, 2010 |
| Final Approval Hearing: |
October 1, 2010 |