WILLIAM SUGGS v THE COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND No. 1:06-cv-00087(RMB)(JS)

Update: On November 25, 2008, Judge Renee Marie Bumb, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey granted Final Approval of the Suggs v. The County of Cumberland. Case was Distributed on April 23, 2009..

Welcome to the Cumberland County Jail Settlement Information Website

A settlement has been proposed in a class action involving the strip search policies of the

Cumberland County Correctional Facility(“CCCF”).

The lawsuit claimed that Defendant Cumberland County and its Corrections Officers followed an unlawful policy and practice of strip searching all persons charged with only non-indictable or minor offenses upon their entry into the CCCF during the Class period.

For complete information regarding your rights as a Class Member, you should read the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.

 

 

You are a Class Member if:

 

  • You were admitted to the Cumberland County Correctional Facility from January 9, 2004 until December 1, 2006
  • AND
  • You were charged with only a non-indictable offense, violation, traffic infractions, violation of probation or parole, held on a civil matter or other non-indictable occurrence
  • AND
  • You were strip searched upon entry into the CCCF

 

If you are a class member a summary of your legal rights is listed in the table below. For Details concerning your legal rights read the complete, Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT
Submit a Claim Form You must submit a claim form to receive payment under the settlement. You must submit a Claim Form by January 28, 2009, to get any money.

What Does the Settlement Provide to Class Members?

Defendants agreed to create a fund of $4,500,000.00 to pay claims to Class Members, costs of administration of the settlement, nominal incentive awards to the Class Representatives and attorneys’ fees and costs. The amount of your payment will depend on the number of valid claims that are sent in. Based on the Plan of Distribution, Class Counsel estimates that each claimant will receive between $750 and $1,400, but this is not guaranteed and is dependant upon how many valid claims are filed. You can only make one Claim, even if you were strip searched more than once.