KOL wins class certification from federal court in Gloucester County search case.

On March 30, 2009, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey granted a contested motion for class certification in Wilson v County of Gloucester, a strip search case in which KOL is one of the lead counsel. The decision was rendered less than two weeks after KOL partner Seth Lesser had argued the motion to the court. A copy of the decision is available here. In the decision, Judge Joseph Irenas found that the plaintiffs’ claims that Gloucester County conducted a blanket strip search policy of strip-searching all individuals who entered the Gloucester County Jail and were placed in jail clothing, regardless of the crime upon which they are charged. One of the named plaintiffs, Mr. DePietro, for instance, had turned himself in to the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office on outstanding child support warrants and found himself, upon entry into the jail, compelled to do a humiliating strip search. The class period begins on March 22, 2004.

A copy of the amended complaint is available here. If you believe you are a member of the class in this lawsuit let us know by clicking here.