People in North Carolina who were wrongfully arrested, or held in jail more than six hours after qualifying for release, because of errors in the state’s eCourts system received news of a proposed Tyler Technologies settlement of up to $1.5 million in October 2026. The court has not approved it, and there is nothing to file yet; individual claims would be capped at $5,000.
Proposed Settlement · Not Yet Approved
This article describes a proposed settlement the court has not yet approved, and claims against another defendant that are still pending. The statements about the eCourts system are allegations. Tyler Technologies has not admitted wrongdoing and has not been found liable, and there is nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
What Is This About?
Tyler Technologies, Inc., the company that built the software behind North Carolina’s court records system, filed a proposed class action settlement on October 26, 2026 in Chaplin v. Rowe, No. 1:23-cv-00423, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina before District Judge William L. Osteen Jr. Under the proposal, Tyler would pay up to $1.5 million, and the deal’s total value, including attorneys’ fees and costs, could reach $2.14 million, according to The Assembly, which first reported the filing.The settlement still needs the court’s preliminary approval before notice goes out and claims open. Tyler does not admit wrongdoing.
Free settlement alerts
Get notified when new class actions open to claims
Join thousands of readers who get the latest class action settlements you may qualify for — delivered straight to your inbox.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
North Carolina began replacing its decades-old court computer systems with eCourts, built on Tyler’s Odyssey case management and eWarrants software, on February 13, 2023, starting in four counties including Wake. The lawsuit, filed that May, alleges the rollout produced errors that led to people being arrested on warrants that had already been resolved and kept in jail for hours or days after they had met the conditions for release, such as posting bond.The suit named Tyler, Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and the sheriffs’ insurers, bringing federal civil rights claims and state negligence claims. None of the allegations has been proven.
How the Case Got Here
On March 31, 2025, Judge Osteen dismissed the negligence and federal civil rights claims against Sheriff Rowe and his surety, and denied the motions to dismiss filed by Tyler and Sheriff McFadden, letting the case continue against both. Tyler’s settlement resolves only the claims against Tyler. The claims against Sheriff McFadden remain pending.What the Proposed Settlement Would Provide
According to the filing as reported by The Assembly, the settlement would cover two groups:• People who were wrongfully arrested because of eCourts errors
• People who were detained more than six hours after they had satisfied the conditions of their release
Each individual claim would be capped at $5,000. Notice would be published in local newspapers, followed by a set period to submit claims. The exact class definitions, dates and claim deadline will be in the court-approved notice. One of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, Gagan Gupta, told The Assembly the settlement “represents a meaningful outcome for North Carolinians who lost their liberty during the transition to eCourts.”
What Happens Next
Judge Osteen will decide whether to grant preliminary approval. If he does, the court will approve the notice and claim process, appoint an administrator and set a final approval hearing. No settlement website, administrator or claim deadline has been announced as of October 28, 2026. This page will be updated when claims open.Questions
Can people file a claim in the eCourts settlement yet?
Not yet. The settlement was filed with a request for preliminary approval on October 26, 2026. If the court grants it, notice will be published in local newspapers and a claim period will open. Payment requires a claim; it is not automatic.
Who would be covered by the Tyler Technologies settlement?
Two groups, as reported from the filing: people who were wrongfully arrested because of eCourts errors, and people who were held more than six hours after they had met the conditions for their release. The exact class definitions and dates will be in the court-approved notice.
Does the settlement resolve the claims against the sheriffs?
No. It covers Tyler Technologies only. Claims against Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe were dismissed in March 2025, and the claims against Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden remain pending.
Did Tyler Technologies admit fault?
No. The settlement does not acknowledge any wrongdoing by Tyler Technologies, and no court has found the company liable.
Sources
• The Assembly: eCourts creator will pay N.C. plaintiffs for problems (October 26, 2026)• CourtListener: Chaplin v. Rowe docket (M.D.N.C. 1:23-cv-00423)
• Memorandum Opinion and Order, March 31, 2025 (Doc. 116)
