About 120 People File Claims Against Strike Force

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A plaintiffs' lawyer says about 120 people have filed claims in a $3 million settlement of a federal lawsuitinvolving a now-disbanded Minneapolis gang unit.

Attorney Randy Hopper says Thursday is the deadline to file a claim.

The August settlement was for a lawsuit against the Metro Gang Strike Force. The lawsuit claimed the strike forces' police officers abused their authority by extorting cash and property, particularly from people of vulnerable immigration status.

The settlement allows people to file claims if they had property taken without notification or a receipt.

One plaintiff says strike force officers took his wallet and returned it with $100 missing.

The strike forces' attorney as saying in August the civil settlement was not an admission of guilt.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)