City of New York Strip Search Settlement, Check If You Qualify Lewis, et al. v. City of New York, et al., No. 23 Civ 2600 (CM)

[UPDATED September 11, 2026 — Initial publication. All facts below verified against the official Court-authorized settlement website, the Long Form Notice, and the Frequently Asked Questions page.]

There’s $28,000,000 set aside for people strip searched twice over one court trip — once before leaving Rikers Island, again on arrival at the Manhattan Court Division. New York City agreed to pay to settle claims that the second search violated the Fourth Amendment. If you were transported this way between 2020 and 2024, you have until November 26, 2026 to file.

City of New York Strip Search Settlement — Key Facts

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$28,000,000 Distribution Amount for Class Member payments, plus $37,500 each to the two Class Representatives and $500,000 in Administrative Costs — none of which come out of the $28,000,000
Claim Deadline	November 26, 2026
Who Qualifies	Individuals in NYC Department of Correction custody strip searched at the Manhattan Court Division after already being strip searched before leaving Rikers Island, during the Class Period
Estimated Payout	UNVERIFIED — no flat or per-person figure is published; your share is pro rata, based on how many qualifying searches you had versus the total across all claimants
Proof Required	Partial — you must give your name, NYSID and/or book and case number if known, Social Security or Tax ID if known, date of birth, and DOC identification if currently in custody; most eligible people already appear on the Court-approved Class List
Settlement Status	Proposed; awaiting final Court approval
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — No. 23 Civ 2600 (CM), before Hon. Colleen McMahon
Law Alleged	Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the New York State Constitution
Administrator	Verita
Official Claim Site	nystripsearchsettlement.com
Last Updated	September 11, 2026

Who Is the City of New York and Why Is It Being Sued Over Strip Searches?

The City of New York runs the Department of Correction, which moves people held at Rikers Island to court appearances in Manhattan. Plaintiffs Raymond Lewis and Frederick Ortiz say DOC’s own procedure required a strip search before leaving Rikers — then another one on arrival at the Manhattan Court Division, with nothing happening in between that could justify searching the same person twice.

What Did NYC DOC Do to People Between 2020 and 2024?

The lawsuit claims DOC’s policy required a second strip search at Manhattan Court Division regardless of whether there was any real reason to think someone had picked up contraband on the ride over. The Fourth Amendment bars unreasonable searches, and a strip search — one of the most invasive searches the government can conduct — generally needs a legitimate justification tied to actual risk. The notice describes the claim plainly: the second search happened with no reasonable suspicion of the harboring of weapons or contraband.

This isn’t New York City’s first strip-search payout. The city settled a similar claim in 2001 for $50 million covering misdemeanor arrestees, and again in 2010 for $33 million in a case over nonconsensual searches of pretrial detainees. This $28 million settlement is narrower — it targets one specific, repeated step in the Rikers-to-Manhattan transport process, not a jail’s entire intake policy.

Are You Part of the City of New York Strip Search Lawsuit Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• People classified as Enhanced Security by DOC who were strip searched this way between March 28, 2020, and February 29, 2024
• Everyone else who went through the same double search between October 1, 2022, and February 29, 2024
• Anyone who already appears on the Court’s agreed-upon Class List, which tracks dates and number of transports for each person
• Those who haven’t already settled a claim over this exact conduct with the City, and aren’t part of a separate group represented by Oddo and Babat before Judge D. Kaplan

People Now Held Outside New York — Are You Still Covered?

Yes. If you were strip searched this way while in DOC custody during the Class Period, your current address or facility — even if you’re now incarcerated in another state — doesn’t affect your eligibility. The claim form asks for your current Facility Name and Facility State specifically so DOC custody outside New York doesn’t get missed.

Not sure if you qualify for the City of New York strip search settlement? A free consultation with a civil rights attorney can help you sort out your Class Period and search count before the November 26 deadline.

How Much Can City of New York Strip Search Settlement Class Members Get? Pro Rata Share of $28,000,000

There’s no set number per person. Your share comes from dividing the number of times you were double-searched by the total number of qualifying searches across every valid claimant. More claims filed against the fixed $28,000,000 fund means smaller individual shares — fewer claims means larger ones.

What Pro Rata Means for Your Payout

Because the payout depends on total participation, nobody — not even Class Counsel — can tell you your exact check amount before the claims window closes. Court-approved attorneys’ fees, up to 33.33% of the settlement value, plus the $500,000 in administrative costs and the two $37,500 service awards, are paid on top of the $28,000,000, not out of it.

Payments over $600 may appear on a 1099. Check with a tax professional about how a settlement payment affects your filing.

That distinction — fees paid separately, not skimmed off your share — is the honest good part of this deal. Everything above that $28 million goes to someone other than you.

How to File Your City of New York Strip Search Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to the claim portal at veritaconnect.com/NYStripSearchSettlement or nystripsearchsettlement.com
2. Enter your name, date of birth, and NYSID and/or book and case number if you have them
3. Add your Social Security or Tax ID number if known — this helps confirm your match to the Class List
4. If you’re currently in custody, include your Department Identification Number, Facility Name, and Facility State
5. Submit online, or mail the hard-copy form using the prepaid envelope if you received one
6. Save your confirmation — the Settlement Administrator will contact you if anything else is needed

Takes about 10 minutes if you have your NYSID or case number on hand.

⚠️ 76 days left — file now at nystripsearchsettlement.com.

Should City of New York Strip Search Class Members Opt Out or Object Before November 26?

What Opting Out Actually Means

Opting out means no payment from this settlement, but you keep the right to sue the City of New York and the Released Parties separately over the same double-search claim. Most people shouldn’t opt out without legal advice first. The exclusion deadline is November 26, 2026, and requests must be mailed — not emailed — to the Settlement Administrator in Los Angeles.

How to Object to the City of New York Settlement

You can stay in the class and still tell the Court you disagree. Objections must be filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and mailed to Class Counsel, Defense Counsel, and the Settlement Administrator by November 26, 2026, including your name, contact information, and the reasons for your objection.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before November 26 if you’re weighing either option — once that date passes, both doors close.

City of New York Strip Search Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Settlement Proposed	UNVERIFIED — exact preliminary approval date not stated on the public notice page
Claims Period Opens	UNVERIFIED — Claim Forms are due within 90 days of the Notice Date, which is not published as a standalone date
Claim Filing Deadline	November 26, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	November 26, 2026
Objection Deadline	November 26, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	January 29, 2027, 10:00 a.m., U.S. District Court, SDNY
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — follows final approval and any appeals, which can take a year or more

City of New York Strip Search Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 23 Civ 2600 (CM)

Do I need a lawyer to file a City of New York strip search settlement claim? 

No. Class Counsel — Steven German and Joel Rubenstein of German Rubenstein LLP — already represents the class at no cost to you. A private consumer rights or civil rights lawyer is only worth hiring if you’re disputing your Class List status or considering opting out.

Is the City of New York strip search settlement legitimate? 

Yes. It’s overseen by Hon. Colleen McMahon in the Southern District of New York and administered by Verita, a court-approved settlement administrator — not a private collector.

When will City of New York settlement payments be sent?

 Not yet. Payments follow the January 29, 2027 Final Approval Hearing and any appeals, which the notice itself says could take more than a year to resolve.

What if I missed the City of New York claim deadline?

 Contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-808-6084 right away. The notice doesn’t guarantee late claims will be accepted, but it’s worth asking before assuming you’re out of luck.

Will my City of New York settlement payment go on a 1099? 

Possibly. Payments over $600 may be reported to the IRS. Confirm with a tax professional before you file your claim.

Why does my Class Period depend on my security classification? 

DOC’s Enhanced Security designation covers a longer window — March 28, 2020 to February 29, 2024 — because those searches were flagged earlier in the litigation. Everyone else’s period runs October 1, 2022 to February 29, 2024.

What specific rights does the City of New York allegedly violate? 

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches, and the equivalent search-and-seizure protection in the New York State Constitution.

How much could City of New York strip search claimants get if this settles? 

There’s no published dollar figure per person. Payment size depends on how many people file valid claims and how many qualifying searches each claimant had, divided across the fixed $28,000,000 fund.

Sources Used in This City of New York Strip Search Settlement Article

• Official Settlement Website — Lewis, et al. v. City of New York, et al.: https://www.nystripsearchsettlement.com/
• Long Form Notice (English): https://www.nystripsearchsettlement.com/media/7283147/nyle_long_form_notice__english_.pdf
• Settlement Agreement: https://www.nystripsearchsettlement.com/media/7253373/nyle_settlement_agreement.pdf
• Frequently Asked Questions Page: https://www.nystripsearchsettlement.com/frequently-asked-questions.aspx
• Important Dates & Deadlines Page: https://www.nystripsearchsettlement.com/important-dates-deadlines.aspx
• Claim Form Portal — Verita: https://veritaconnect.com/NYStripSearchSettlement/

Background context (not a source for case facts above): Historical NYC strip-search settlement figures ($50 million in 2001; $33 million in the 2010 McBean case) are widely reported in legal-affairs coverage and cited here only to show this is part of a recurring pattern, not as authority for any fact about the Lewis case itself.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official Court-authorized settlement website, the Long Form Notice, and the case’s Frequently Asked Questions and Important Dates pages, as of September 11, 2026. Last Updated: September 11, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.