$28 MILLION - MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT STRIP SEARCH SETTLEMENT

If you were an individual in New York City Department of Correction custody between March 28, 2020, and February 29, 2024, who was strip searched upon arrival at the Manhattan Court Division after having been strip searched prior to departing Rikers Island for court during the Class Period, you may be eligible for benefits from a class action Settlement.

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- German Rubenstein LLP announces a Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit against the City of New York and Louis Molina (the "Defendants"), relating to the Action, alleging that Defendants violated federal and state constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment and the New York State Constitution by requiring all New York City Department of Correction ("DOC") persons in custody to be strip searched at the Manhattan Court Division after having been previously strip searched on Rikers Island with no legitimate penological interest for such searches and no reasonable suspicion of the harboring of weapons or contraband. The lawsuit, entitled Lewis, et al. v. City of New York, et al., Case No. 23 Civ. 2600 (CM) ("Action"), is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Eligible participants' legal rights are affected whether or not they act.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SETTLEMENT

To participate in the settlement or more complete information, please read the full Notice by visiting the website www.NYStripSearchSettlement.com, by emailing [email protected], or by calling toll-free 1-888-808-6084 or 646-969-5852.

Who is included? The Settlement includes any individual in DOC custody who was strip searched upon arrival at the Manhattan Court Division after having been strip searched prior to departing Rikers Island for court during the "Class Period." Class Period means the time between March 28, 2020, and February 29, 2024, for individuals classified as Enhanced Security by the NYC Department of Correction and the time between October 1, 2022, through February 29, 2024, for all other individuals.

What does the Settlement provide? The City of New York has agreed to pay a total of $28,000,000 in Settlement Class Member payments, $37,500 to each of the Class Representatives Raymond Lewis and Frederick Ortiz, and $500,000 in Administrative Costs to settle the Action. The "Distribution Amount" of $28,000,000 will be used to pay for all Class Member claims. Court-approved attorneys' fees and costs, service awards to each Class Representative, and the Administrative Costs will not be deducted from the Class Fund.

What are my options? You may (1) do nothing, (2) participate in the Settlement and receive your portion of the Class Fund when it becomes available, (3) request to exclude yourself from the Settlement, or (4) object to the Settlement.

Do Nothing. If you do nothing, you will not receive payment. You will also give up your rights to be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants for the legal claims made in this case and released by the Settlement Agreement.

Participate in the Settlement. If you want to be eligible to receive payment, you must submit a Claim Form. Claim Forms must be postmarked no later than November 26, 2026 and can be found at: www.NYStripSearchSettlement.com, by emailing [email protected], or by calling toll-free 1-888-808-6084 or 646-969-5852.

Exclude Yourself from the Settlement. If you exclude yourself or "Opt Out", you will not receive payment. This is the only option that allows you to be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants for the legal claims made in this case and released by the Settlement Agreement. Instructions on how to exclude yourself from the Settlement are available at www.NYStripSearchSettlement.com.

Object to the Settlement. If you object, you must write to the Court with reasons why you do not agree with the Settlement. Objections must be postmarked by November 26, 2026. Instructions on how to object to the Settlement are available at www.NYStripSearchSettlement.com.

The Court's Final Approval Hearing. The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing at 10:00 a.m. on January 29, 2027, to determine whether the Settlement Agreement should receive Final Approval by the Court. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. The Court will also decide whether to approve payments of attorneys' fees, costs, and service awards. The Court will take into consideration any properly-filed objections and may also listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing. You may appear at the Final Approval Hearing, but you do not have to. You also may hire your own attorney, at your own expense, to appear or speak for you at the Final Approval Hearing. For additional instructions on how to appear and speak at the Final Approval Hearing, please refer to the detailed Notice in English or Spanish posted on the Settlement website www.NYStripSearchSettlement.com, or you may contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-808-6084 or 646-969-5852 for bilingual phone support, or by email at [email protected].

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SOURCE German Rubenstein LLP