On May 4, 1998, two women arrested on separate alcohol-related charges filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 in U.S. District Court for the North District of Alabama challenging the strip search policy of the Shelby County Jail. The policy was to strip search all arrestees who were to be placed into general population, regardless of whether there was any suspicion of concealing contraband. One of the plaintiffs also alleged that she was subjected to excessive force by jail guards.

On April 14, 1999, the District Court (Judge Inge P. Johnson) granted summary judgment to the defendants on plaintiffs' claims that they were each subjected to an unconstitutional strip search. Judge Johnson denied defendants' motion as to the excessive force claim, finding that there were factual issues for the jury to resolve. Shortly after the Court's ruling, the parties settled the case and filed a stipulation for dismissal with prejudice. The settlement terms are unknown.

Dan Dalton - 08/08/2007


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