Dupuy v. Samuels is a class action case against the Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services that has been pending before the federal court for the Northern District of Illinois for several years. In general, the certified class of plaintiffs in Dupuy includes persons who have been, are or will be indicated as perpetrators of child abuse and neglect or have been, are, or will be subject to safety plans the Department utilizes in connection with its investigations. In December 2006, the parties to Dupuy, after protracted negotiations conducted under court supervision, agreed to settle many of the claims in the case, but principally excluding those that have to do with safety plans. The court has already preliminary approved the settlement. But under the law, it cannot finally approve the settlement without giving class members notice of the settlement and an opportunity to object to it at a "fairness hearing," which hearing will be held on February 22, 2007. The notice to the class ("Notice") will be found at www.dupuyclassnotice.com not later than January 9, 2007. The Notice explains in some detail the terms of the settlement and how class members may object to it. Also, plaintiffs' attorneys have established a dedicated phone line for purposes of communicating with class members or their attorneys if they have questions about the Notice or the settlement or how to object to the settlement. The phone number of the dedicated phone line, which will be operational no later than January 9, 2007, is 312-651-1801.