$8.14M Cincinnati Protest Settlement, Were You Arrested in 2020?

The City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County agreed to pay $8,143,000 to settle a class action lawsuit filed by people arrested during the 2020 George Floyd protests. The lawsuit, Kenney, et al. v. City of Cincinnati, alleged unlawful arrests, excessive detention, and First Amendment violations after former Mayor John Cranley imposed a citywide curfew. The settlement covered 479 class members. The claim deadline of June 5, 2025 has now closed. This article serves as a historical record of the settlement for affected individuals.

Quick Facts

Settlement Status and What Happened

• December 5, 2025 — The City of Cincinnati publicly announced the $8,143,000 settlement covering 479 people arrested during the 2020 George Floyd protests.
• December 10, 2025 — The Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to approve the settlement. The case then moved to a federal district judge for final approval.
• June 5, 2025 — The claim deadline closed. Class members who did not file a claim or update their contact information by this date are no longer eligible to receive payment.

What Was the Cincinnati Protest Lawsuit About?

In May and June 2020, protests erupted in Cincinnati following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. After former Mayor John Cranley enacted a citywide curfew, Cincinnati police made hundreds of arrests — many for curfew violations. Plaintiffs filed the class action lawsuit Kenney, et al. v. City of Cincinnati, Case No. 22-cv-00108, in 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, arguing the arrests violated their First Amendment rights to protest and their Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful seizure.

The lawsuit also alleged mistreatment during the arrests and detention at the Hamilton County Detention Center. Plaintiffs argued that once transferred to county property, detainees experienced poor conditions of confinement. Neither the City of Cincinnati nor Hamilton County admitted any wrongdoing in the settlement.

Cincinnati City Council members acknowledged the pragmatic reasoning behind the payout — comparable protest settlements in Denver ($14 million), New York ($13 million), and Philadelphia ran significantly higher. The council voted unanimously in favor, with members noting the city and Hamilton County police followed the protocol in place at the time.

Who Qualified for the Settlement?

The settlement administrator identified class members through court records and public arrest records. Each eligible class member received a claims package by mail that included their designated award amount.

• You may have qualified if you were physically arrested by Cincinnati police during protests between May 29 and June 8, 2020.
• You may have qualified if the city charged you with a misdemeanor that was later dismissed.
• You may have qualified for additional compensation under the conditions of confinement subclass if you were detained for more than five hours in connection with your arrest.
• You may have qualified for a secondary claim if you suffered uncompensated injuries — including severe physical or mental injuries, medical expenses, lost earnings, or property loss.
• You did not qualify if you signed a release or waiver connected to a plea agreement for charges arising between May 30 and June 8, 2020.
• You did not qualify if you were charged with or alleged to have committed a felony or any offense involving violence or property damage.

Related article: Christian Dior Data Breach Settlement, Are You Eligible for Up to $1,600?

How Much Did Class Members Receive?

The settlement offered three tiers of compensation. Each class member’s claims package included their individual designated award amount based on the tier they fell into.

The base award amount varied per class member based on the individual circumstances stated in their claims package. The settlement fund totaled $8,143,000, of which $2,035,750 went to attorneys’ fees. The City of Cincinnati funded its share through judgment bonds. Hamilton County contributed $65,000 of the total.

How Did Class Members File a Claim?

Because the deadline has now passed, this section is provided for historical reference only.

Step 1 — Class members received a claims package by mail from the settlement administrator, identified through court and public arrest records.

Step 2 — The claims package included a designation of award showing the proposed payment amount for the base award tier.

Step 3 — For the base award, no action was required — the administrator automatically processed and mailed payments.

Step 4 — Class members seeking the conditions of confinement subclass payment submitted an online claim form with a signed declaration attesting to detention of more than five hours.

Step 5 — Class members seeking a secondary injury claim submitted the online claim form with supporting evidence such as medical records, receipts, affidavits, or other documentation.

Step 6 — Class members who did not receive a claims package but believed they were eligible could email [email protected] with their full name, mailing address, and supporting documentation before the June 5, 2025 deadline.

Important Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to have filed a claim in this settlement? 

No. The settlement administrator identified class members automatically through court and arrest records and mailed each one a claims package. Class members could file their claim online without legal representation. Class Counsel represented all class members collectively at no individual cost.

Is this Cincinnati protest settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The settlement, Kenney, et al. v. City of Cincinnati, is a court-supervised class action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously to approve the $8,143,000 settlement on December 10, 2025. The official settlement website is cincinnatiprotestsettlement.com, administered by the Cincinnati Protest Settlement Claims Administrator.

When will class members receive their payment? 

Payments will distribute after the federal district court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. The claim filing deadline closed on June 5, 2025. If you submitted a valid claim before that date, monitor your mail for payment information from the settlement administrator at PO Box 2599, Faribault, MN 55021, or call 1-800-598-3016.

What if I missed the June 5, 2025 claim deadline? 

The claim deadline has closed. If you did not submit a claim or opt out, you remain part of the settlement class but will not receive a payment. You also give up any individual right to sue the City of Cincinnati or Hamilton County over the claims resolved by this settlement. Contact an attorney if you believe you have exceptional circumstances.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Settlement payments from civil rights and constitutional violation cases may or may not qualify as taxable income depending on how the IRS classifies the specific damages. Payments for physical injury may be excludable under IRC Section 104, while other categories may be taxable. Consult a qualified tax professional about your specific situation.

Why did Cincinnati settle instead of going to trial?

 The City of Cincinnati cited comparable settlements in other major cities — Denver settled a similar protest lawsuit for $14 million, New York for $13 million, and Philadelphia for a similar amount. Council members acknowledged this figure was lower than peer cities and that officers followed the protocol in place at the time. Both sides agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.

What policy changes did Cincinnati make as part of the settlement? 

As part of the settlement, the Cincinnati Police Department agreed to operational and policy changes. These include the creation of a formal guidebook establishing standards for responding to protests and similar events, new dispersal order procedures, and improved coordination with courts during mass arrest situations. City officials noted several of these changes were already implemented before the settlement was finalized.

What happened to the charges against those arrested?

 To qualify for the settlement, class members must have been charged with a misdemeanor that the city later dismissed. The settlement only covered individuals whose charges were dismissed — not those convicted or who pleaded guilty.

Sources and References

1. Official Settlement Website — cincinnatiprotestsettlement.com
2. City of Cincinnati Press Release — $8.1M Settlement Announcement, December 5, 2025

If you experienced a civil rights violation involving unlawful arrest or police misconduct, understanding your constitutional protections matters beyond any single settlement. You can also review the Boy Scouts of America $2.46B settlement payment update as an example of how large class action distributions work once final approval is granted.

Last Updated: March 14, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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