Ruling opens door for strip-search suits

NEW YORK, March 29 (UPI) -- A federal judge's recent ruling has made it possible for thousands of people to file lawsuits for being strip-searched in New York's Nassau County.

U.S. District Judge Denis Hurley ruled a class-action lawsuit against the county could go forward in its attempt to gain damages for alleged unfair strip searches conducted by county authorities, Newsday reported Saturday.

Attorney Robert L. Herbst, who represents the more than 23,000 plaintiffs in the suit, said his clients were subjected to unfair searches between 1996 and 1999.

"All these years have subjected people with misdemeanors to this disgusting procedure for no reason," Herbst said.

"There are now only two possibilities -- we either go on to trial or we settle the case," he added.

The newspaper said the judge's ruling on the case, which the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has also granted class-action status, could prompt additional litigation.