1. What is a Class Action Lawsuit:

A class action lawsuit allows a group of individuals to join their individual claims into one lawsuit. The court in this case has approved this claim as a class action. All members of the class are bound by the results of the case.

2. Will I Have To Pay Attorney Fees and Case Expenses?

You will be represented on a contingent fee basis. This means that the lawyers receive a fee paid only out of a final recovery. The amount of attorney fees is determined by the Court. If there is no recovery, you will not be responsible for attorney fees or costs.

3. Who is included as a Class Member?

This Court has certified a class consisting of:

All male and female prisoners booked into the Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center (Jail) on or after December 24, 2000, and strip searched without individualized reasonable suspicion pursuant to the automatic strip search form based upon "Post Conviction Commitment" and who were not detained (i) post-conviction; (ii) for violent offenses, i.e., crimes that meet the definition of RCW 9.94A.030 (45); and/or (iii) any felony or misdemeanor offense involving burglary, escape, possession or use of a weapon, or a drug, or controlled substance, offense.

If you were strip searched at the Pierce County Jail on or after December 24, 2000, and you were strip searched without individualized reasonable suspicion, and you were not being detained (1) post-conviction, (2) for a violent offense, and/or (3) for any felony or misdemeanor offense that involved burglary, escape, possession or use of a weapon, and/or possession or use or distribution of a drug or controlled substance, then you may be a member of the Class.

If you are a member of the Class, unless you exclude yourself from the Class, you will be bound by any judgment entered by the Court with regard to the Class, whether that judgment is favorable to the Class or not. Class members also have the option of appearing in this action through their own counsel.