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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSt. Joseph County in northern Indiana has agreed to pay $270,000 to settle a federal class-action lawsuit that accuses the county of failing to provide those arrested with probable cause hearings within 48 hours, the South Bend Tribune reported.
U.S. District Judge Theresa Springmann said Tuesday that she anticipates giving the settlement final approval by November. The lawsuit was filed in 2011 by John P. Donovan, who was arrested in 2009 by Indiana State Police and held for longer than 48 hours without a probable cause hearing. He ultimately was charged with a license plate infraction.
The Tribune reported Donovan's attorney is expected to receive about $108,000 of the settlement. About $146,500 will be distributed among 49 people who were held for more than 48 hours without probable cause hearings.
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