Federal judge greenlights $4 million settlement for St. Louis Workhouse lawsuit, initiates claims process

The City of St. Louis and plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit recently reached a $4 million settlement, approved by a federal judge. This settlement stems from a lawsuit initiated in 2017 regarding the conditions at the former Workhouse jail, which was later demolished due to public pressure. Eddie Williams, one of the lawsuit’s six plaintiffs, shared his harrowing experience as a pre-trial detainee at the Workhouse in 2017, where he endured extreme heat and mold, with guards neglecting to provide adequate sustenance. The settlement caters to more than 16,000 individuals who were detainees at the Workhouse for three or more consecutive days between November 13, 2012, and June 30, 2022.

ArchCity Defenders, the organization behind the lawsuit, highlighted the inhumane conditions within the Workhouse and expressed hope that the settlement would provide some compensation for the hardships endured by those inside. The City of St. Louis maintains its denial of any wrongdoing and liability in the lawsuit, though it agrees to settle. The settlement does not equate to an admission of guilt on the city’s part. The final approval hearing for the settlement is slated for July 22, with $1.3 million allocated for legal costs and the remainder set to be distributed among class members.

Brianna Coppersmith, a Staff Attorney at ArchCity Defenders, detailed their plans to contact the eligible individuals leading up to the final hearing. Eddie Williams, reflecting on the settlement, expressed a sense of justice finally being served after a prolonged struggle since 2017. He emphasized his relief in no longer having to revisit the trauma of his time at the Workhouse, advocating for its closure, which eventually occurred despite extensive renovations. The settlement serves as a resolution to a bitter chapter in Williams’ life, offering closure and a fresh start, free from the shadows of the past.