City of New York Agrees to Pay $28 Million in Strip Search Settlement

NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- In a significant legal settlement, the City of New York has agreed to pay $28 million to individuals who were subjected to strip searches upon arrival at the Manhattan Court Division after having been strip searched at Rikers Island, between March 28, 2020, and February 29, 2024. This settlement addresses a class action lawsuit filed by German Rubenstein LLP on behalf of individuals alleging violations of their Fourth Amendment and New York State constitutional rights.

The lawsuit, titled Lewis, et al. v. City of New York, et al., Case No. 23 Civ. 2600 (CM), was pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The settlement includes payments of $37,500 to each of the class representatives, Raymond Lewis and Frederick Ortiz, and $500,000 in administrative costs. The total settlement fund of $28 million will be distributed among eligible participants.

According to the terms of the settlement, individuals who were in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) and were strip searched at the Manhattan Court Division after having been strip searched at Rikers Island during the specified periods are eligible to participate. The class period for individuals classified as Enhanced Security by the NYC DOC is from March 28, 2020, to February 29, 2024. For all other individuals, the class period is from October 1, 2022, to February 29, 2024.

To participate in the settlement, eligible individuals must submit a claim form by postmarking it no later than November 26, 2026. For more detailed information, individuals can visit the settlement website at www.NYStripSearchSettlement.com.

The settlement also provides options for those who do not wish to participate. Individuals can choose to exclude themselves from the settlement, which allows them to pursue their own legal claims against the defendants. Alternatively, they can object to the settlement by writing to the court with reasons for their disagreement. Objections must be postmarked by November 26, 2026.

The court will hold a final approval hearing on January 29, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. to determine whether the settlement agreement should be approved. The hearing will consider whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. The court will also decide on the approval of attorneys' fees, costs, and service awards. Interested parties can attend the hearing or hire their own attorneys to speak on their behalf.

This settlement marks a significant step in addressing the concerns of individuals who have been subjected to what they believe were unnecessary and unconstitutional strip searches. The outcome of the final approval hearing will be closely watched by legal experts and advocates for civil liberties.