Outcome: $2.89 Million Class Action Settlement
Baker, et al. v. The City of Florissant, Case No. 4:16-cv-1693-RHH in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern Division
Tycko & Zavareei LLP, ArchCity Defenders, Inc., and Keane Law LLC represented plaintiffs against the City of Florissant, Missouri in a successful class action settlement amounting to $2.89 million. This case challenged the city’s alleged unconstitutional “pay-to-play” arrest and detention scheme. The lawsuit accused Florissant of imprisoning individuals unable to pay minor municipal fines or for failing to appear in municipal court, without inquiring into their ability to pay, effectively creating a modern-day debtors’ prison. The settlement not only marks a significant financial win for the plaintiffs and over 75,000 class members but also highlights critical issues of constitutional law, sovereign immunity, and municipal liability.
The implications of this settlement extend far beyond the financial compensation, signaling a shift towards justice and constitutional adherence within the City of Florissant. The Court’s decision requires Florissant to abolish the use of “bond schedules” by its Police Department and jail, forgive all unpaid minor traffic violation debts for Class Members accumulated over approximately eight years, and ensure arrested persons have unconditional access to indigency forms. Additionally, it mandates timely indigency hearings post-booking and legal representation for unrepresented, indigent individuals. This settlement not only provides substantial relief to the affected class members but also sets a precedent for ending unconstitutional practices of alleged debtors’ prisons in Missouri and potentially across the United States, reinforcing the importance of fair treatment under the law.