Smith v. District of Columbia Settlement

What happened

The District of Columbia, through its Metropolitan Police Department, arrested and prosecuted individuals for violations of the District's gun control laws outside their homes or places of business. The settlement compensates class members who were subjected to these arrests or prosecutions, which a court has now determined violated their constitutional rights.

Do you qualify?

Anyone arrested and/or prosecuted by the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department between May 15, 2012 and October 10, 2014 for violating DC gun control laws outside their home or business, or whose prosecution began before May 15, 2012 and continued during and after that period, provided they had no prior felony conviction, no prior domestic violence misdemeanor conviction within five years, were not subject to a judicial order to relinquish firearms, and were not convicted of any felony or violent misdemeanor from that arrest.

What you can claim

Read from the official settlement notice. Confirm the terms that apply to you on the administrator's site before filing.

• Monetary payment

  Class members who qualify and submit a claim form will receive a payment from the settlement.

• Personalized judicial order

  Class members can obtain a personalized order signed by the Judge to show employers or others, which requires submitting a claim form.

Who is in the class

You may have been entitled to receive MONEY if, between May 15, 2012 and October 10, 2014, the District of Columbia, through its Metropolitan Police Department ("MPD") arrested and/or prosecuted you, or your prosecution started before May 15, 2012 and continued during and after that period in the District of Columbia for a violation of any of the District's gun control laws outside your home or place of business AND you: Did NOT have a felony conviction before your arrest or prosecution; Were NOT convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor within the five-year period before your arrest or prosecution; Were NOT subject to a judicial order compelling you to relinquish any firearms in your possession or barring you from possessing any firearms at the time of your arrest or prosecution; and Were NOT convicted of any felony or violent misdemeanor charge arising out the arrest;

Quoted from the settlement notice.

How to file

Submit a claim form by February 10, 2025 (postmarked, emailed, or filed online) to receive a payment. Every class member's arrest on firearms charges is declared null and void, but you must submit a claim form if you want a personalized judge-signed order for employers or other purposes. For more information, contact the Claims Administrator at 877-871-0517 or info@SmithvDCSettlement.com.