If you applied for a Cook County correctional officer position and believe you were not hired because you did not pass certain hiring tests, you may qualify for money from a $5.675 million class action settlement.
Eligible class members who submit a valid claim may receive a payment of up to $10,000, with payments expected to range from approximately $950 to $2,000 depending on the number of approved claims and other court-approved deductions. The deadline to file a claim is August 5, 2026.
What happened?
The lawsuit claimed that Cook County, the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board, and Sheriff Thomas J. Dart used written and physical abilities tests that discriminated against Black applicants seeking correctional officer positions.
According to the lawsuit, these hiring tests unfairly prevented qualified Black applicants from being hired.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible if all of the following apply:
- You identify as Black (African American).
- You applied for a Cook County Department of Corrections correctional officer position after March 13, 2015.
- You were not hired because you did not pass one of the following:
- The first written test (NCJOSI2)
- The second written test (SBSA-LEO)
- The physical abilities test (PAT)
The settlement includes specific groups of applicants based on which hiring test they did not pass and when they applied.
How much money can you get?
Eligible class members who submit a valid claim may receive a pro rata cash payment from the settlement fund.
Key payment details include:
- Maximum payment: Up to $10,000 per person
- Expected payment: Approximately $950–$2,000, depending on:
- The number of valid claims submitted
- Court-approved attorneys’ fees and expenses
- Settlement administration costs
- Service awards approved by the Court
Approximately $3.4 million is expected to be available for payments to eligible class members.
Additional Benefit
Opportunity to Reapply: In addition to potential compensation, eligible class members may also have the opportunity to reapply for a correctional officer position through a revised hiring process created as part of the settlement.
Depending on your previous testing history, the new process may include benefits such as:
- Not having to retake the first written test if you previously passed it.
- Having a previous test score recalculated under a revised scoring system.
- An opportunity to retake the first written test if your recalculated score is still not passing.
- Not having to take the second written test or the physical abilities test.
- The right to appeal certain future hiring disqualifications.
If you want both a settlement payment and the opportunity to reapply, you must submit both a Claim Form and a Job Application.
Your options
| Option | What It Means | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Submit a Claim Form | Receive a cash payment if your claim is approved. | Aug. 5, 2026 |
| Submit a Claim Form + Job Application | Receive a payment (if approved) and apply through the special hiring process. | Aug. 5, 2026 |
| Opt Out | Receive no payment but keep your right to pursue your own lawsuit. | Aug. 5, 2026 |
| Object | Tell the Court why you disagree with the settlement while remaining in the class. | Aug. 5, 2026 |
| Do Nothing | Receive no payment and lose the opportunity to participate in the special hiring process. | — |
How to file a claim?
To receive a settlement payment, you must submit a valid online claim by August 5, 2026.
To file online, you’ll need the CPT ID and Passcode from the settlement notice you received. If you no longer have your login information, contact the Settlement Administrator by email to request your credentials.
If you also want to participate in the revised hiring process, you’ll need to submit a Job Application Form in addition to your claim.
Payment Method
Approved claimants will receive their settlement payment by paper check after final court approval and completion of the claims process.
Settlement Administrator
Simpson v. Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board and County of Cook
c/o CPT Group Inc.
PO Box 19504
Irvine, CA 92623
Phone: 888-439-0284
Email: [email protected]
If you are a Black applicant who applied for a Cook County correctional officer position after March 13, 2015, and were not hired because you did not pass one of the required hiring tests, you may qualify for up to $10,000.
Submit your claim by August 5, 2026.
