JANE DOE, et al. v JEREMY JOSPH NELSON, et al.

CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT INFORMATION

The class action lawsuit styled Jane Smith, et al., v. Jeremy Joseph Nelson, et al., Case No. CV-2016-900449.00 pending in the Circuit Court of Madison County, Alabama, has been settled.

The lawsuit alleged that the Defendants, Sanitary Systems, a janitorial service company, James Starkey, the owner of Sanitary Systems, and Jeremy Joseph Nelson, an employee of Sanitary Systems, are liable for placing cameras in the bathrooms and changing rooms used by minors and adults at Ann’s Studio of Dance, Bentley Cadillac Dealership, and WHNT 19 television station.

The aforementioned events occurred during the following time frames:

  • At Ann’s Studio of Dance from approximately April 1, 2014 until Mr. Nelson’s arrest on October 7, 2014;
  • At WHNT from approximately April 2013 until Mr. Nelson’s arrest on October 7, 2014; and
  • At the Bentley Cadillac Dealership from approximately September 2014 until Mr. Nelson’s arrest on October 7, 2014.

In response to the Complaint, Defendants filed a well-supported Motion for Summary Judgment.

In order to determine if any of the images obtained from Nelson’s conduct had been distributed via the internet (or any other means), the Parties jointly sued the Department of Homeland Security for information about the investigation by filing a Complaint in Federal Court.

In December, the Parties mediated the case over a period of two weeks. A compromise settlement was finally reached. The Parties filed a Joint Motion to Approve the Settlement. The settlement has been recommended by the Court-appointed Guardian ad Litem in her report to the Court, and has been preliminarily approved by Circuit Court Judge Alan D. Mann.

Identified class members received this Notice.

The hearing on Final Approval has been scheduled for March 21, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the following:

Drew Haskins​

205-327-9136

dhaskins@hgdlawfirm.com

Eric Artrip

256-532-2222

artrip@mastandoartrip.mystagingwebsite.com