Closed
Release Card Settlement
The court granted final approval on December 18, 2023. Checks were mailed in rounds from February to July 2024, and no replacement checks were issued after July 30, 2024.
Case record
- Case
- Reichert, et al. v. Keefe Commissary Network, LLC, et al.
- Case no.
- 3:17-cv-05848-BHS
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Tacoma
- Defendant
- Rapid Investments, Inc. (d/b/a Rapid Financial Solutions) and Cache Valley Bank
- Administrator
- Kroll Settlement Administration
- Settlement fund
- Up to $11.6 million
The case
What this settlement was about
When people were released from jails and other detention facilities, their confiscated cash was often returned not in cash or by check, but loaded onto unrequested prepaid debit "release cards" that immediately began accruing maintenance and transaction fees. The lawsuit alleged this violated the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act, because detainees never requested the cards or agreed to the fees, and had no other way to get their own money back.
The court certified a litigation class, and claims against Rapid Investments and Cache Valley Bank settled for up to $11.6 million. Claims against co-defendant Keefe Commissary Network were resolved separately. More than 1,500 facilities nationwide were covered.
Class members did not need receipts: eligibility and fee amounts were determined from the defendants' own card records. The payout formula, $15 plus three times the fees actually charged, reflected the treble damages framework of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act.
The class
Who was covered
All persons in the United States who, since October 20, 2016 (or October 20, 2013 for Washington State facilities), were taken into custody, were entitled to the return of confiscated money or inmate account balances, and were issued a fee-bearing prepaid debit card without being offered an alternative, covering more than 1,500 facilities. Members of the related Nevada Watkins class were also included.
- What class members could receive$15 plus three times the fees charged on the release card, for example, $6 in fees yielded up to $33, subject to pro rata reduction if valid claims exceeded the fund.
- Proof requirementMost class members could file without proof of purchase.
- Claim deadlinePassed on Apr 30, 2024. New claims are no longer accepted.
Docket timeline
How the settlement unfolded
- October 2017Class action filed
Jeffrey Reichert sued over fee-bearing release cards issued after his release from custody.
- December 18, 2023Final approval
The settlement was approved at the fairness hearing the same day; the fund was paid in within 31 days.
- April 30, 2024Claim deadline (extended)
Originally December 4, 2023, the deadline was extended three times; late claims with an explanation were accepted afterward.
- February – July 2024Checks mailed in rounds
Payment rounds went out February 16, April 2, June 3, and July 1, 2024.
- July 30, 2024Distribution closed
No replacement checks were issued after this date; leftover funds went to court-approved nonprofits.
Questions people still ask
Frequently asked questions
Can I still file a release card claim?
No. The claim deadline was extended several times but finally closed on April 30, 2024, and the last checks were mailed by July 1, 2024. The claims process is closed.
How much did the release card settlement pay?
Each valid claimant received $15 plus three times the fees actually charged on their release card. Someone charged $6 in card fees, for example, could receive up to $33.
Why were the release cards illegal?
The lawsuit alleged the cards violated the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act: people leaving custody never requested the cards or agreed to the fees, yet the cards were the only way to get their own confiscated money back, and the fees started accruing immediately.
Did I need a receipt to file a claim?
No. Eligibility and fee amounts were determined from the defendants' own card records covering more than 1,500 facilities, so class members did not need any documentation.
What happened to unclaimed settlement money?
Leftover funds were designated for court-approved nonprofit organizations under the settlement's cy pres provisions, they did not revert to the defendants.
Sources for this record
Official site releasecardsettlement.com has been retired. Record preserved by TapClaim.
