Frequently Asked Questions

About the Notice

1. Why did I get a notice?

The Notice is to tell you about the Settlement of a class action lawsuit, Newman v. County of Los Angeles, brought on behalf of people who were subjected to a mass strip search in the Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) on September 7, 2021, by the County of Los Angeles.

You received a copy of the Notice because you may be a member of the group of people affected, called the “class.”

This website and the Notice give you a summary of the terms of the proposed Settlement Agreement, explains what rights class members have, and helps class members make informed decisions about what action to take.

2. What do I do next?

Read this website and the Notice to understand the Settlement and to determine if you are a class member. Then, decide if you want to:

Read on to understand the specifics of the Settlement and what each choice would mean for you.

3. What are the most important dates?

Your deadline to object or opt out: March 2, 2027

Your deadline to submit a claim form: March 2, 2027

Settlement Approval Hearing: April 26, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.

Learning About the Lawsuit

4. What is this lawsuit about?

In 2022, a class action lawsuit was filed against the County of Los Angeles. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of incarcerated individuals who were involved in a mass strip search incident on September 7, 2021.

The lawsuit claims that the County of Los Angeles conducted a mass search of inmates housed in the Men’s Central Jail in units 2500 and 2700 on September 7, 2021. During the search, members were required to submit to visual body cavity inspections, after which some inmates were required to remain nude, and were restrained while being transported through the facility to body-scanning machines.

The County of Los Angeles denies they did anything wrong.

5. Why is there a settlement in this lawsuit?

In 2025, the parties agreed to settle, which means they have reached an agreement to resolve the lawsuit. Both sides want to avoid the risk and expense of further litigation. The Court has not decided this case in favor of either side.

The Settlement is on behalf of Plaintiff Newman who brought the case and all members of the Settlement Class.

6. What is a class action settlement?

A class action settlement is an agreement between the parties to resolve and end the case. Settlements can provide money to class members and changes to the practices that caused the harm.

7. What happens next in this lawsuit?

The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement. The hearing will be held at:

Where: Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez United States Courthouse, 350 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

When: 10:00 a.m. on April 26, 2027.

The Court has directed the parties to send notice about the proposed Settlement because the Settlement of a class action decides the rights of all members of the proposed class. The Court must give final approval to the Settlement before it can take effect. Payments will only be made if the Court approves the Settlement.

You don’t have to attend, but you may at your own expense. You may also ask the Court for permission to speak and express your opinion about the Settlement. If the Court does not approve the Settlement or the parties decide to end it, it will be void and the lawsuit will continue. The date of the hearing may change without further notice to members of the class. To learn more and confirm the hearing date, continue to visit this website.

Learning About the Settlement

8. What does the Settlement provide?

Los Angeles County has agreed to pay $1.5 Million into a Settlement Fund. Each member who files a timely claim shall receive an equal pro rata share of the Settlement Fund. This amount will be calculated based on the number of Timely Claims and after Class Administration costs, Plaintiff incentive awards, and attorney’s fees and costs have been paid.

Members of the Settlement Class will “release” their claims as part of the Settlement, which means they cannot sue Los Angeles County for the same issues in this lawsuit. The full terms of the release can be found in the Settlement Agreement.

If there is money left over after the claims process is completed, it will be paid to support the activities of a nonprofit, human rights organization that focuses on sexual abuse in all forms of detention.

9. How do I know if I am part of this Settlement?

If you were incarcerated at the Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) in units 2500 or 2700 on September 7, 2021, and were subjected to the mass search incident, you are part of this Settlement.

If you are unsure whether you are part of this Settlement, contact the Settlement Administrator at (833) 232-9120.

10. How much will my payment be?

Payment amounts will be a minimum of $5,000.00.

Deciding What to Do

11. How do I weigh my options?

You have four options. You can stay in the Settlement and submit a claim, you can opt out of the Settlement, you can object to the Settlement, or you can do nothing. This chart shows the effects of each option:

Note: By opting out you remove yourself from the class and no longer have a legal right to object.

Choose the best path for you:

Submitting a Claim

12. How do I get a payment if I am a class member?

If you wish to receive money, you must submit a completed Claim Form to the Settlement Administrator either online here or download a Claim Form here and mail to the Settlement Administrator (address in FAQ 19).

There are strict time limits for when the claim must be submitted. Act promptly.

13. Do I have a lawyer in this lawsuit?

In a class action, the Court appoints class representatives and lawyers to work on the case and represent the interests of all the class members. For this Settlement, the Court has appointed the following individuals and lawyers.

Your lawyers:

These are the lawyers who negotiated this Settlement on your behalf.

If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

14. Do I have to pay the lawyers in this lawsuit?

Lawyers' fees and costs will be paid from the Settlement Fund. You will not have to pay the lawyers directly.

To date, your lawyers have not been paid any money for their work or the expenses that they have paid for the case. To pay for some of their time and risk in bringing this case without any guarantee of payment unless they were successful, your lawyers will request, as part of the final approval of this Settlement, that the Court approve a payment of up to 1/3 total in attorneys’ fees plus the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.

Lawyers' fees and expenses will only be awarded if approved by the Court as a fair and reasonable amount. You have the right to object to the lawyers' fees even if you think the Settlement terms are fair.

Your lawyers will also ask the Court to approve a payment of $10,000.00 to three Named Plaintiffs for the time and effort they contributed to the case. If approved by the Court, this will be paid from the Settlement Fund.

Opting Out

15. What if I don't want to be part of this Settlement?

You can opt out. If you do, you will not receive payment and cannot object to the Settlement. However, you will not be bound or affected by anything that happens in this lawsuit and may be able to file your own case. You cannot exclude yourself from the program changes called for by the proposed Settlement.

16. How do I opt out?

To opt out of the Settlement, you must complete the opt out form available for download here or included with the Notice and mail it by March 2, 2027, to the Settlement Administrator at:

LA County Men’s Central Jail Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799

Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, and signature.

Objecting

17. What if I disagree with the Settlement?

If you disagree with any part of the Settlement (including the lawyers' fees) but don’t want to opt out, you may object. You must give reasons why you think the Court should not approve it and say whether your objection applies to just you, a part of the class, or the entire class.

The Court will consider your views. The Court can only approve or deny the Settlement — it cannot change the terms of the Settlement.

You may, but don’t need to, hire your own lawyer to help you.

To object, you must send a letter to the Court that:

• is postmarked by March 2, 2027;

• includes the case name and number (Newman v. County of Los Angeles, Case No. 2:22-cv-03467-CAS (PDx));

• includes your full name, address and telephone number, and email address (if you have one);

• states the reasons for your objection;

• says whether either you or your lawyer intend to appear at the Final Approval Hearing and your lawyer's name;

• your signature.

Mail the letter to:

Doing Nothing

18. What are the consequences of doing nothing?

If you do nothing, you will not get any money, but you will still be bound by the Settlement and its “release” provisions. That means you won’t be able to start, continue, or be part of any other lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles about the issues in this case. Please see the Settlement Agreement for a full description of the claims and persons who will be released if this Settlement is approved.

Key Resources

19. How do I get more information?

This website and the Notice are a summary of the proposed Settlement. The complete Settlement with all its terms can be found here. To get a copy of the Settlement Agreement sent to you or get answers to your questions:

• contact the Settlement Administrator (information below)

• contact your lawyer (information below)

• visit this website periodically