Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-2_12-cv-00123/USCOURTS-ared-2_12-cv-00123-18/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

EASTERN DIVISION 

GARY COVINGTON, on behalf of 

himself and all others similarly situated 

v. No. 2:12-cv-123-DPM 

PLAINTIFF 

ULESS WALLACE, HERMAN HALL, and 

NEAL BYRD, all in their official capacities DEFENDANTS 

ORDER 

1. Motion, NQ 194, granted as modified. Please make the noted changes 

to the draft Notice and the draft claim form and proceed. We need to be more 

explicit about the fairness hearing and objections. Those concerns prompted 

most of the changes. 

2. No one has objected to paying now the expenses incurred to date for 

the Claims Administrator. Ng 192 at 2. The Court therefore orders the City and 

the County to reimburse Sutter & Gillham $8,776.61, split 50/50, by 1 June 

2015. 

So Ordered. 

D.P. Marshall JrV' 

United States District Judge 

Case 2:12-cv-00123-DPM Document 199 Filed 05/19/15 Page 1 of 4
Case 2:12-cv-00123-DPM Document 194-1 Filed 05/01/15 Page 1of3 

Covington. v. Byrd, et al 

Case Number 2:12-CV-00123 

In the United States District Court for the Eastern District f Arkansas 

~O_Tl_C-+-T_O_C_O_V_l_N_G_T_O_N_C_LA_S_S_M_E_M_B_E_R_S _____________ ~'.-:Jf Field C~e Changed 

To: All pretrial detainees at the PhiVrps County Jail who were denied a prompt first appearance iA tt:le tt:lree 

· · from June 22. 2009 to June 22. 2012. 

You may be eligible for compe ation. A tentative settlement has been reached. The City of Helena-West 

Helena and Phillips Coun~~iJ contribute to a settlement pool in the amount of $275,000, plus reasonable 

attorney fees and costs. · l(,agreement caps the City and County liability te-fil._$275,000, plus reasonable 

attorneys' fees and costs. All Class members' fines and costs within control of the City and County will be 

forgiven as of the date of Judgment. Court costs are controlled by the State of Arkansas and cannot be 9el::IAQ 

resolved by this agreement. The County and City will make best efforts to see that court costs will also be 

alleviates foraiven for all members of the GlassClass. 

1. Class Action Clai6 

Your rights may be affected by tRis-the proposed settlement of this Class Action. Gary Covington has brought 

this lawsuit against Ph"rllips County and the City of Helena-West Helena. He alleges that the County and the 

City failed to provide a prompt first appearance in court (within 72 hours of arrest) to pretrial detainees at the 

County jail. Covington claims the City and the County violated the U.S. Constitution. He seeks damages for 

himself and others who were allegedly denied a prompt first appearance. The Court has held Phillips County 

liable for its violation of the Constitution, aAa will set tt:le matter fer a trial eA aamages ewea. The City denies 

that it violated the Constitution and denies any liability to Covington and other pretrial detainees. A trial was 

scheduled to resolve the City's potential liability. However, ru!...the parties have negotiated a settlement, subject 

to the Court's approval and any objections Class Members may have. 

2. Location of Lawsuit 

~,'f, 

· A'h~lass Action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The · 

/~ purpos~ of this Notice is to tell you about the Class claim described in paragraph 1. This Notice is sent for the 

u'.rpose of informing you that this case is pending and a tentative settlement has been reached-so you 

bide whether to participate in this sas&-settlement or not. If you wish to participate in this settlement, : ~·.· + ·. ustfile aslaim-Claim Form by August 1, 2015".\ 6.P r wi:»"'- ~ ~}igile.t tt ~i~ $~~~I ' 

'VW W\V$f" ~·te ~"' db.•e.c-h'DAI !by ;jv~S:+ 3. Attorney Fees & Costs a · !> · •• 

Under the settlement, the County and the City have agreed to pay Class Counsel reasonable attorney's fees 

and costs, as approvedJ~~ Court. No other fees or costs will be charged to Class members. 

4. Class Representati~'c1ass Attorney 

The Court has approved Gary Covington as Class Representative. Under the Setttlement, the parties propose 

to pay him a Class Incentive of $35,000.00. Mr. Covington has also agreed to release all claims he may have 

against the County and the City. The Court has also approved a Class Attorney. He is: 

Luther Sutter 

SUTTER & GILLHAM, P.L.L.C. 

Attorneys at Law 

Post Office Box 2012 

Benton, Arkansas 7201 B 

{501) 315-1910 

If you aesiae te remaiA a FAeFA8er e1 tt:le Class aAa wish to communicate with the Class Attorney, you may do 

so by writing to him. 

Questions? Visit www.PhillipsCountyClassActionSettlement.com or call toll-free 1-844-360-8307. Page 1 of3 

Case 2:12-cv-00123-DPM Document 199 Filed 05/19/15 Page 2 of 4
Case 2:12-cv-00123-DPM Document 194-1 Filed 05/01/15 Page 2 of 3 

Covington. v. Byrd, et al 

Case Number 2:12-CV--00123 

In the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas 

5. Proposed Settlement 

A. As a Class Member, any claims you have against the County or the City for damages will be decided as 

follows: 

1. Class members who didn't get a timely first appearance, but were released upon first appearance or 

otherwise released. Persons in this subclass will receive $600 per day. {72 hours after arrest until 

release). Covington will receive this amount for his days. 

2. Class members who did not receive a timely first appearance within 72 hours, but were released 

after first appearance, and sentenced to time served. Persons in this subclass will receive $150 per 

day. (72 hours after arrest until release). 

3. Class members who did not receive a timely first appearance within 72 ho¥t were lawfully 

detained after first appearance (held for other reasons or unable to make b~ Persons in this 

subclass will get $1. 

Regardless of whether a claim is filed, all Class members fines and costs within control of the Gity-C~and 

691::1flty-;Qountv will be forgiven as of the date of Judgment. Court costs are controlled by the State of Arkansas 

and cannot be 99YAEJ...-resolved by this agreement. But +Ae-~County and City will make best efforts to see 

that court costs will also be aBatee-foraiven for all members of the class. 

6. Rights and Obligations of Class Members 

A. Gary Covington has acted as your Class Representative and Luther Sutter of Sutter & Gillham, P.L.L.C. has 

acted as your Class Attorney for the presentation of the claims against the City and the County. If you desire, 

you may appear at any proceeding in person or by an attorney you have selected. You may also seek to 

intervene individually and may advise the Court if at any time you consider that you are not being fairly and 

adequately represented by the Class Representative or Class Attorney. 

If you fail to file a claim postmarked er reseived by August 1, 2015, you will reseive netl=lin§not receive any 

money. Once a claim is filed, all claims will be verified. YOU MUST i;::u: A CbJ',IM BY AUGUST 1, 291 a TO 

ReCel\te A~IY MmleY i;::ROM Tl-le CbASS i;::u~IDYou must file a Claim Form postmarked by August 1. 

2015 to receive any money from the class fund. Under the terms of the settlement, Plaintiff is entitled to a 

refuse to settle, should the pool be insufficient to fund the verified claims or Plaintiff can ask Judge Marshall to 

prorate the claims. If the Plaintiff does not ask for proration or Judge Marshall refuses to prorate the claims, ....t' •~ 

then the City or County can walk away, if the claims exceed the fund. ~Id-a llearing-te-evakf~ 

:::=eta~ie ~'.~9~? s3~laW"every righHttt>e-h~~__g.JAis.b~-

r;;:-' V.il www.Pbim,.CO~~'"""';'.::''·~: ;~ Qll ~ll-fre< I ~44-360-83"7. P ... 2 of3 j 

\ 8. F(/\u"..-Ness 1-!e<U>.ra Al} . u ~ td fA.. hJLM;N"»_ --h W~"'-*- ~ ~tJ~ss "c-P ~~ \I 81N1. C0,u~ wan © Y, htMt.e. Ji:J.fA.y ~',.M..t -hr> he hie@Ad fA.+~1(. .S 

ro4JO~ C<Z.~~+. I'>\/ • '-o' I ~ h.i...M~~ @Al Sel9tewd$\ nu D .1.00~-. p u • Ct0V1At" IW! II "" gdll H , ~ 

h~ (}\.in"'~ • • TN- i al ~ff.A+ ad- ~: tro ~. M . Yw VV1.vst- b-e.. 1'4-e $/l/IA+ N 

rh,ii. ~(M. ""'-~ !Al w_ h;l.Md (7;.~Wf ~ f"~$A.J S;l..ijG.~. Tke. 

a'/: 7enJ w~+ .f.o~d . laWl.-h.oo~ :.LA ~f ~ a.c/kdV\J fP;,..eprvd 

kJitMW:. woH be e;w;f-hWSR., lR ()O w.e.St C91.fifof f.l.ve.NV€ 1 la°»&_ 

f.h.6\!0;J Vfll;-k,J S~-k.s ~e..l-<:.u A->lc<Ml\.s~.s, 72.'J.Ol. 

Case 2:12-cv-00123-DPM Document 199 Filed 05/19/15 Page 3 of 4
Case 2:12-cv-00123-DPM Document 194-1 Filed 05/01/15 Page 3 of 3 

Covington. v. Byrd, et al 

Case Number 2:12-CV-00123 

~,nited States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas 

(!&tact Information 

Any questions you have concerning the matters contained in this Notice should not be directed to the Court. 

They should be directed in writing to the Class Administrator. You may write to the Glaiffis....Class Administrator 

at Covington Class Administrator. c/o Class Action Administration, Inc .. PO Box 6878. Broomfield. CO 80021. 

Additionally, you may learn more about the Class Act"lon oAliAe at:by visiting 

www.PhillipsCountyClassActionSettlement.com or by calling 1 888 287 Hid71-844-360-8307. The pleadings 

c:t..nd other records in this case may be examined and copied at any time during regular office hours at the office 

of'tlle Clerk of the United States District Court, 600 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas. 

10-;{;)eminderasto~~ ~la't>Jes 

If you wish to receive any money from the Covington Class fund described in paragraph +one, return tf:le-§ 

completed Claim Form to the Class Administrator. by mail postmarked on or before August 1. 2015.{Ferm 

MissiRfil 

YOU MUST FILE A CLAIM FORM BY AUGUST 1, 2015 TO RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM THE CLASS 

FUND. 

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-ro .,-wt Pie.o poS€.D St.--rT Lf..l\1'ENT. 

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Questions? Visit www.PhillipsCountyClassActionSettlement.com or call toll-free 1-844-360-8307. Page3of3 

Case 2:12-cv-00123-DPM Document 199 Filed 05/19/15 Page 4 of 4