U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman (D- NJ) Thursday approved a $1.5 million settlement for plaintiffs illegally strip-searched while held for minor offenses at the Burlington jail. The settlement order in Haas v. Burlington County provides an additional $900,000 in counsel fees to plaintiffs counsel .
Noel Hillman
The federal judge’s ruling affects a class of about 14,000 people, but confirmed claimants so far could each get a $400 award for being subjected to mandatory strip searches at the jail.
The named plaintiffs and class members were held on nonindictable charges, such as not paying fines. They say they were forced to remove their clothing for searches under a policy carried out prior to arraignment or before defendants have an opportunity to post bail. They allege the jail’s practice is degrading, unreasonable, had lasting traumatic effects, and violated their rights under New Jersey law and the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“The plaintiffs were gratified by the result,” said Haddonfield attorney William Riback, one of three lawyers for class representatives Tammy Marie Haas and Conrad Szczpaniak.
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