On July 20, 2009, individuals who claimed to be victims of unlawful force and violence at the hands of the Metro Gang Strike Force filed this class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota against the Strike Force and other law enforcement agencies and police officers in the Minneapolis area. The lawsuit was brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 1985, and Minnesota state law. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, sought injunctive relief and punitive damages.

The plaintiffs were individuals who had allegedly been subjected to excessive force during raids conducted by the now-defunct Strike Force, a task force made up of police from the Twin Cities and surrounding communities to prevent gang activity. Many of the plaintiffs had property, including vehicles, cash, and televisions, confiscated by the Strike Force. Some of the plaintiffs were also physically injured by Strike Force officers during these raids. Allegedly, the Strike Force ransacked the plaintiffs’ homes and did not provide a receipt or inventory for the property that was taken. The plaintiffs stated that the Strike Force targeted undocumented individuals because the Strike Force knew these people were especially vulnerable.

Multiple status conferences in 2009 and 2010 were followed by a settlement; a judicially-enforced settlement agreement was eventually entered on November 4, 2010 and Judge Joan Ericksen signed off on the settlement on December 16, 2010. The defendants agreed to create a $3 million settlement fund to pay for approved claims, special master fees, law enforcement training and education, and other administrative costs. Additionally, the defendants paid plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and the settlement agreement outlined the procedure for plaintiffs to claim monetary relief, including getting approval from Judge Ericksen.

The Settlement also provided for training to be developed and implemented, with the participation of a plaintiffs' representative, covering civil rights; community based policing; constitutional use of drug-courier profiles by law enforcement agencies; courtroom testimony and procedure; forfeitures; investigative report writing; pretextual stops; property handling procedures; racial and ethnic sensitivity; and search and seizure.

In accordance with the settlement agreement, payments for attorneys’ fees were dispensed throughout 2011 and 2012. The special master awarded payouts to the victims from the settlement fund in 2012. The lawsuit and its settlement concluded on September 4, 2012 once Judge Ericksen authorized payment to all claimants that received awards.

Since the settlement concluded in September 2012, settlement funds have been continuously released in order to pay minor class members and cover their attorneys’ fees.

Amelia Huckins - 02/12/2017


compress summary