For political activists, this would include the 500+ of us who were arrested and taken to various police stations on the night the U.S. invaded Iraq, March 20, 2003. Taken together with the 300 who were detained on the street that night, this was the single largest mass arrest in Chicago history.

Here is information about the class action lawsuit from the notice mailed to some of us class members:

"You may be entitled to a payment from a class action settlement if you were:

"(1) held in a Chicago Police Department interrogation or 'interview' room for mroe than 16 hours in a 24-hour period at any time from October 21, 2002 to May 14, 2010; or

"(2) detained in a Chicago Police Department lock-up or detective facility overnight at any time from October 21, 2002 to May 14, 2010; or

"(3) arrested by the Chcago Police Department on suspicion of a felony without an arrest warrant and detained in excess of 48 hours without a judicial probable cause hearing, at any time from March 15, 1999 to February 10, 2008....

"The settlement will provide up to $16,500,000.00 to pay claims by persons who fit within one or more of the three settlement classes listed below, as well as to pay the costs of class notice and settlement administration, attorneys' fees and costs to Class Counsel, and incentive awards to the Plaintiff Class Representatives.

"The proposed settlement would resolve a lawsuit over whether the City of Chicago violated constitutional rights of certain arrested persons; avoid costs and risks to Class Members from continuing the lawsuit; pay money to eligible Class Members; and release the City of Chicago from liability. The City of Chicago denies Plaintiffs' claims, and denies that it has engaged in any wrongdoing."

For information about whether or not you are eligible to receive funds, deadlines for applying to receive them, and other deadlines, call 1-888-398-8212 or 1-312-224-7041. Information can also be found www.DUNNSETTLEMENT.COM