City Attorney Updates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2009

Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement

The City of New Orleans has been in protracted Federal Court Class Action litigation involving the juvenile detention facility, the Youth Study Center. Over the course of several months, all parties have worked diligently on trying to resolve the allegations, resulting in compromises on each side. The City is happy to report that a Proposed Consent Judgment was reached which would put an end to the litigation, once approved by the Court. The City has agreed to make certain changes both from an operational standpoint and from a facility structure standpoint; even though it vehemently denies that it violated any constitutional rights of these inmates while in custody.

On Wednesday December 2, 2009 after a hearing before the Honorable Ivan L.R. Lemelle, the Court approved the Proposed Consent Judgment subject to a fairness hearing which is set for February 12, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.. The “Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement” setting forth in detail the status of the lawsuit, including a statement of one’s rights with respect to the Proposed Consent Decrees in the case and the opportunity to file with the court any objections one may have to the Proposed Consent Decrees is available for your review by accessing the link below.

Youth Study Center Litigation

Nolan P. Lambert
Chief Deputy City Attorney

Eraka Williams
Assistant City Attorney

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