Legal Settlement Reached in Lawsuit Against St Louis Suburb

A lawsuit against a Missouri city and six other St. Louis suburbs has been resolved with a $2.9 million settlement. The lawsuit alleged that the constitutional rights of residents were violated through imprisonment and forced payment of fines and fees, primarily for minor traffic offenses. The settlement with the city of Florissant was approved by a federal judge and announced by a St. Louis-based public interest law firm. Filed in 2016, the class-action lawsuit scrutinized the policing and court practices of several St. Louis County cities following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson. The lawsuit resulted in a federal investigation that accused Ferguson of racially biased policing and excessive fines. As part of the settlement, Florissant will distribute funds among over 85,000 individuals who were incarcerated or fined between October 2011 and February 2023. The city will also forgive unpaid fees from traffic violations and must ensure the right to an attorney for individuals brought before a municipal judge. Several other Missouri cities involved in the lawsuit have already reached settlements totaling $16 million in damages. The lawsuit against the city of Ferguson is still pending.