The claim window has closed, but class members who already filed and are owed a payment can still keep their mailing address current with the Settlement Administrator.
What Is This Settlement About?
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, agreed to pay $15 million to resolve a long-running EEOC Class Complaint alleging race discrimination against African American Deputy U.S. Marshals (DUSMs). The case began as an EEOC charge filed in 1994 and was litigated for nearly three decades; it is captioned Hedgepeth v. Bondi (previously known as Fogg v. Garland and Hedgepeth v. Garland), EEOC No. 570-2016-00501X.The class agents alleged that the USMS used promotion, reassignment, hiring, and recruitment practices that discriminated against African American employees and applicants under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The USMS denies that it violated Title VII and denies any wrongdoing or liability; the settlement is a compromise of disputed claims and does not constitute an admission. The EEOC made no final ruling on the merits of the allegations. The settlement website, usmssettlement.com, was authorized by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and is not operated by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Why You Can Still Use the Change of Address Form
New claims can no longer be filed, but the settlement is now in the payment-distribution stage, and the Settlement Administrator still needs a valid mailing address to deliver payments. If you submitted a Claim Form and your address has changed since you filed, you should let the Administrator know so your payment is not mailed to an old address.The official settlement website keeps a Change of Address Form available for exactly this purpose. According to the form, if your address has changed you should complete it so the Settlement Administrator has your current contact information on file.
How to Update Your Address
Go to the official settlement website and open the USMS Settlement Change of Address Form. The online form asks for:• First name and last name (required)
• Last four digits of your Social Security number (required)
• Phone and email (optional)
• Your new mailing address — street, apartment/suite, city, state, and ZIP (required)
• An electronic signature and the date (required)
Only people who are part of the settlement class and who already filed a claim need to do this. If you need a copy of the proposed Settlement Agreement, the Administrative Judge's decision, or have other non-legal questions, use the contact options on the official settlement website rather than re-submitting a claim, since the claim window is closed.
Who Was in the Class?
The settlement class covered current and former African American Deputy U.S. Marshals who alleged they were subjected to USMS policies and practices regarding promotions under the Merit Promotion Process, Management Directed Reassignments, and Headquarters Division assignments; and current and former African American Deputy U.S. Marshals, Detention Enforcement Officers, and applicants never employed who alleged they were subjected to USMS hiring and recruitment practices — all for the period from January 23, 1994 to November 27, 2023. Class members could not opt out of the class.What the Settlement Provides
Under the agreement, the USMS pays $15 million into a Settlement Fund. That fund is used to pay individual awards to eligible class members and also covers Class Counsel's attorneys' fees and costs (Class Counsel sought up to $4,950,000, or 33% of the fund, subject to approval), any service awards, claims-administration expenses, and tax-related costs. No portion of the fund reverts to the USMS. The settlement also provides non-monetary relief through changes to USMS promotion, hiring, recruitment, training, and data-collection policies. Individual payment amounts are determined by a neutral third-party Claims Allocator using the methodology in the Settlement Agreement; the USMS has no role in calculating individual awards.Case Status & Timeline
• September 27, 2023 — Notice of Resolution process began.• January 11, 2024 — Objection deadline (passed).
• January 26, 2024 — Claim Form deadline (passed).
• June 24, 2024 — The EEOC granted final approval of the settlement.
• September 2, 2025 — The EEOC's Office of Federal Operations denied one class member's appeal; a second appeal was withdrawn.
• After October 2, 2025 — A motion for reconsideration of the denied appeal was filed and has since been denied.
With final approval in place and the appeals resolved, the matter has moved into distribution, which is why keeping your address current matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the U.S. Marshals Service race discrimination settlement still open?
No. The Claim Form deadline was January 26, 2024, and it has passed. New claims can no longer be filed. The EEOC granted final approval on June 24, 2024, and the remaining appeals have been resolved, so the settlement is now in the payment-distribution stage.
I already filed a claim. How do I update my mailing address?
The official settlement website, usmssettlement.com, has a Change of Address Form. If your address has changed since you filed, complete that form so the Settlement Administrator can mail your payment to the correct address. The form asks for your first and last name, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your new address, and your signature and date.
Who was covered by the settlement class?
The class included current and former African American Deputy U.S. Marshals, Detention Enforcement Officers, and applicants for Deputy U.S. Marshal positions who alleged they were subjected to USMS promotion, reassignment, hiring, and recruitment practices from January 23, 1994 to November 27, 2023. The USMS denied any wrongdoing or violation of Title VII.
When will payments be issued?
Individual award amounts are calculated by a neutral third-party Claims Allocator under the settlement methodology, and payments are distributed by the Claims Administrator after the funds are transferred. Because keeping your address current is what lets the Administrator reach you, class members who filed should make sure their address on file is correct. For the latest status, check usmssettlement.com.
Sources
• Official settlement website — USMS Settlement (usmssettlement.com)• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — EEOC.gov
• U.S. Marshals Service — USMarshals.gov
