St. Louis Workhouse $4M Settlement (Cody v. St. Louis)

St. Louis Medium Security Institution (Workhouse) jail class action settlement

Published: June 18, 2026

Status Claims Open

Claim Deadline June 29, 2026

Estimated Payout Pro rata cash $4,000,000 fund split by total eligible detention days · no fixed per-person amount

Proof Required Yes The claim form has an 8-digit Claimant ID field from the mailed notice that may be required to file — keep your notice handy

What Is This Settlement About?

The City of St. Louis has agreed to a $4 million settlement to resolve a long-running federal civil rights class action over conditions at the St. Louis Medium Security Institution — the jail widely known as the "Workhouse." The lawsuit, filed in 2017, alleged that the City held people in unconstitutional and inhumane conditions: insect and rodent infestations, mold, broken plumbing and sewage backups, and heating and cooling so inadequate that indoor temperatures reached triple digits in summer. The Workhouse was emptied of detainees and ultimately demolished in 2025.

A federal judge granted preliminary approval of the settlement in February 2026 and opened the claims process. The City does not admit any wrongdoing or liability; the settlement resolves the case without a trial. More than 16,000 people are estimated to be eligible to claim a share of the fund.

Who Qualifies?

You are a class member if you were detained at the St. Louis Medium Security Institution (the Workhouse) for three or more consecutive days at any time between November 13, 2012 and June 30, 2022. A single stay had to last at least three consecutive days to count, but if you were held on more than one occasion, eligible periods can add up.

Eligibility is based on the City's own detention records, and the Claim Form is a short attestation — you confirm your name and current mailing address, check the boxes verifying you were held at MSI for three or more consecutive days during the Class Period under the conditions described, and sign it. The form also has a field for an 8-digit Claimant ID printed on the notice that was mailed to identified class members, and that identifier may be required to file, so keep your mailed notice handy. If you cannot locate your Claimant ID, contact the settlement administrator through the official settlement website before the deadline to ask how to proceed.

How Much Can You Get?

There is no flat, guaranteed dollar amount per person. The City is funding a $4,000,000 settlement fund. Court-approved attorneys' fees and expenses (up to $1,333,220), administration costs, and service awards to the class representatives are paid out of the fund first; the notice estimates the remaining Net Settlement Fund at roughly $2,495,350. That net amount is divided pro rata — in proportion to the total number of eligible detention days each claimant had — so class members who were held longer (or on multiple qualifying stays of three-plus days) receive a larger share.

Because the per-person payment depends on how many eligible people file valid claims, the exact per-day rate cannot be set until the claim period closes. To illustrate, the notice estimates that someone with 100 eligible detention days would receive roughly $120 if every class member filed, about $487 at a 25% claim rate, and about $1,220 at a 10% claim rate (the level the parties think is likely based on comparable settlements). If money is left unclaimed after the first round of checks, a second distribution may be mailed to class members who cashed their first check. Payments are expected roughly 90 days after the court grants final approval, assuming no appeals.

How to File a Claim

Filing is free. You can submit a claim two ways:

Complete the online Claim Form on the official settlement website.
Download the paper Claim Form from the website and mail or email the completed form to the settlement administrator.

The Claim Form is short: you provide your name and current mailing address, check the boxes confirming you were detained at MSI for three or more consecutive days during the Class Period and experienced the conditions described, and sign it. No receipts are required, but the form has a field for an 8-digit Claimant ID printed on the notice that was mailed to identified class members, and that identifier may be required to submit your claim — so keep your mailed notice handy. The administrator, Atticus Administration, verifies eligibility against the City's jail records and may follow up if it needs more information. If you cannot locate your Claimant ID, contact the administrator through the official settlement website before the deadline to ask how to proceed. Only one Claim Form per person is allowed. (If your last name changed since your detention, or you are filing for a deceased class member, the form asks for supporting legal documentation such as a marriage, divorce, or death certificate.)

Key Deadlines

Exclusion (opt-out) deadline: April 28, 2026 (now passed).
Claim deadline: June 29, 2026 (submit online or postmark the paper form by this date).
Objection deadline: June 29, 2026.
Final approval hearing: July 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM, Courtroom 12S, U.S. District Court, St. Louis.
Payments: approximately 90 days after final approval, if the settlement is approved and survives any appeals.

Avoiding Scams

No legitimate settlement administrator will ask you to pay a fee to file a claim or to "release" your payment, and you never have to pay anyone to participate. File only through the official settlement website. Be wary of anyone who contacts you demanding money, a gift card, or sensitive financial information in exchange for help with this settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for the St. Louis Workhouse settlement?

Anyone detained at the St. Louis Medium Security Institution (the Workhouse) for three or more consecutive days at any point between November 13, 2012 and June 30, 2022 is a class member and may submit a claim for a cash payment.

How much money can I get?

There is no fixed per-person amount. The $4 million fund (after fees, costs, and service awards) is divided pro rata among everyone who files a valid claim, based on the total number of eligible days each class member was detained. The more eligible detention days you claimed and the fewer total claims filed, the larger each share.

Do I need proof or documents to file a claim?

Possibly. No receipts or out-of-pocket documents are needed, but the claim form has an 8-digit Claimant ID field from the notice that was mailed to identified class members, and that identifier may be required to submit your claim. Keep your mailed notice handy. If you cannot find your Claimant ID, contact the settlement administrator through the official settlement website before the deadline to ask how to proceed.

What is the deadline to file a claim?

Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by June 29, 2026. The court's final approval hearing is scheduled for July 22, 2026, and payments are expected to be issued to approved claimants roughly 90 days after the settlement receives final approval.

How do I file a claim?

File online through the official settlement website, or download the paper Claim Form there and mail or email it to the settlement administrator before the deadline. Filing is free.