St. Louis Workhouse $4M Settlement Workhouse Is Gone, But If You Were Held There, You Can Still File for Cash

The City of St. Louis agreed to pay $4 million to settle a class action lawsuit — Cody et al. v. City of St. Louis — that accused the city of holding detainees in unconstitutional and inhumane conditions at the Medium Security Institution (MSI), commonly known as the Workhouse. Plaintiffs claimed that individuals held at MSI experienced extreme temperatures, poor ventilation, sewage overflows, pest infestations, mold, and overcrowding. The building is now demolished. The claim deadline is June 29, 2026, and more than 16,000 people may be eligible.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$4,000,000
Claim Deadline	June 29, 2026
Who Qualifies	Detained at St. Louis MSI for 3+ consecutive days, Nov. 13, 2012 – June 30, 2022
Payout Per Person	Pro-rata share — varies based on total eligible detention days claimed
Proof Required	Claimant ID + last name or last 4 digits of SSN + date of birth
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved — final hearing July 22, 2026
Administrator	Atticus Administration LLC
Official Website	stlmediumsecurityinstitutionclassaction.com
Case Number	4:17-cv-2707-AGF (E.D. Mo.)

Where things stand right now:

• A federal court preliminarily approved the $4 million settlement in February 2026.
• The opt-out (exclusion) deadline is April 28, 2026, and the claim form deadline is June 29, 2026.
• The final approval hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2026. Payments will be issued to approved claimants approximately 90 days after the court grants final approval.

What the Workhouse Actually Was — and Why the City Is Paying $4 Million

The Workhouse was a city jail on Hall Street in north St. Louis that operated for decades under conditions that advocates, detainees, and eventually federal courts found difficult to justify. The 2017 lawsuit stated that for years, the facility was plagued by insects, rodents, mold, broken plumbing fixtures, sewage backups, and nonexistent or inadequate heating and cooling.

That summer, jail residents had been heard screaming for help as temperatures reached triple digits, prompting protests and public scrutiny. One of the original plaintiffs, James Cody, described being housed in a dorm with 69 other men sharing a single working toilet, sink, and shower. He recalled summer temperatures inside the jail reaching 125 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the lawsuit.

ArchCity Defenders filed the lawsuit in 2017, and the settlement was confirmed by St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer in May 2025. The settlement was reached before Spencer took office. The City denied all wrongdoing and liability but agreed to settle to avoid a trial. Demolition of the Workhouse began on March 18, 2025, and the building no longer exists.

Related article: DOJ Just Paid Michael Flynn $1.2 Million In Malicious Prosecution Settlement, Here Is What Actually Happened and Why It Matters

Who Qualifies to File a Claim

Class members must have been detained at the St. Louis Medium Security Institution for three or more consecutive days between November 13, 2012, and June 30, 2022.

You may qualify if:

• You were held at the Workhouse (St. Louis MSI) for at least three consecutive days any time between Nov. 13, 2012, and June 30, 2022
• During that time you experienced at least one of the following: extreme temperatures, poor ventilation, overflowing sewage, insect or rodent infestations, mold, or overcrowding
• You received a Claimant ID in the mail from Atticus Administration — or you believe you are eligible and have not yet received one
• You are filing on behalf of a deceased class member and have a death certificate and legal authority documentation

You likely do not qualify if your detention at MSI lasted fewer than three consecutive days, or if you were held at a different St. Louis City facility.

How Much You Can Expect to Receive

The payout is pro-rata — meaning the more days you were detained, and the fewer total people who file valid claims, the more you receive. The funds will be divided by how many file claims and how long each claimant stayed at the facility. If all who are eligible apply, the average payout would be about $250 each, before attorneys’ fees and other costs.

That number goes up if fewer people file. It is in every eligible person’s interest to submit a claim — unclaimed funds do not increase what others receive; they simply go unawarded.

After deductions, the $4 million fund breaks down like this:

Category	Amount
Attorneys’ fees	Up to $1,333,220
Service awards to 6 class representatives	$10,000 each ($60,000 total)
Settlement administration costs	TBD
Payments to approved claimants	Remaining funds

How to File Your Claim

Class members can file a claim online or print the PDF claim form to mail or email to the settlement administrator.

1. Visit stlmediumsecurityinstitutionclassaction.com to file online
2. Enter your Claimant ID along with your last name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number and your date of birth
3. If your last name has changed since your detention, attach a copy of a legal name-change document such as a marriage or divorce certificate
4. If you are filing on behalf of someone who has passed away, include a death certificate and documentation proving your legal authority to act on their behalf
5. Mail paper claims to: St. Louis MSI Lawsuit, c/o Atticus Administration, PO Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164, or email to [email protected]
6. Submit by the hard deadline of June 29, 2026 — late claims will not be accepted

Estimated time to complete: 10–15 minutes online, 20 minutes by mail.

Key Dates

Milestone	Date
Lawsuit Filed	November 2017
Settlement Agreement Signed	April 10, 2025
Preliminary Approval	February 2026
Opt-Out (Exclusion) Deadline	April 28, 2026
Claim Form Deadline	June 29, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 22, 2026
Expected Payment Date	~90 days after final approval

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim?

 No. The online claim form at stlmediumsecurityinstitutionclassaction.com takes about 10 minutes to complete. You need your Claimant ID, which the settlement administrator mailed to eligible class members. If you did not receive one but believe you qualify, call Atticus Administration at 1-800-591-0732.

Is this settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It is a federal court case, Cody et al. v. City of St. Louis, case number 4:17-cv-2707-AGF, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. ArchCity Defenders brought the suit, and the settlement was confirmed publicly by St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer. The official settlement website is stlmediumsecurityinstitutionclassaction.com.

What if I was detained there but never got a notice in the mail?

 You can still file. Contact Atticus Administration directly at 1-800-591-0732 or email [email protected] to verify your eligibility and obtain your Claimant ID before the June 29, 2026 deadline.

Can I file on behalf of someone who died?

 Yes. Individuals submitting a claim on behalf of a deceased class member must include a death certificate copy and legal documentation showing they have authority to act on their behalf.

When will I receive my payment? 

Payments will be issued to approved claimants approximately 90 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement. The final approval hearing is July 22, 2026, which puts estimated payment timing in the fall of 2026, assuming no appeals.

What if I missed the deadline to opt out?

 The opt-out exclusion deadline is April 28, 2026. If you miss it, you remain a class member and must either file a claim by June 29, 2026, or receive nothing. You cannot file a separate lawsuit over the same conditions after the settlement is final.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Settlement payments in civil rights cases may be taxable depending on how they are characterized. Consult a tax professional once you receive your payment notice. The settlement documents do not specify a W-2 or 1099 split for this case.

What if I was only held there for one or two days? 

The settlement requires three or more consecutive days of detention between November 13, 2012, and June 30, 2022. A stay of fewer than three consecutive days does not qualify, even if you experienced the same conditions.

Sources

• Official Settlement Website — stlmediumsecurityinstitutionclassaction.com
• Long-Form Class Notice (PDF)

Last Updated: March 26, 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.