Hall Release Card Settlement

Claims must be received no later than January 31, 2027.

Important Updates

Summary of the Settlement

Did you receive a prepaid debit card ("release card") when you were released from a jail, correctional facility, detention center, or other law enforcement facility between January 16, 2024 and June 30, 2026? If so, you may be entitled to a payment from a $4,200,000 class action settlement.

On July 2, 2026, the Court preliminarily approved the Settlement, certified a Nationwide Class and a Washington Subclass for settlement purposes, approved the form of class notice, and appointed Kroll Settlement Administration LLC as the Settlement Administrator. Following a Fairness Hearing on October 19, 2026, the Court granted final approval of the Settlement and extended the deadline for Class Members to submit claims to January 31, 2027.

Schedule of Deadlines and Events

Expected dates are estimates and may change. Please check this website for updates.

About the Lawsuit

When individuals are taken into custody, their personal funds are temporarily confiscated, and upon release they have a legal right to have those funds returned. This lawsuit, filed on January 16, 2025 by Plaintiff Ashley Hall, challenges the practice of Defendants Rapid Investments, LLC (d/b/a Rapid Financial Solutions, d/b/a Release Pay) and Axiom Bank, N.A. of returning those funds through prepaid debit cards (“release cards”) that carry fees, rather than by cash or check. The lawsuit alleges that issuing these unsolicited cards, and charging service and inactivity fees against the funds on them, violates the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act (“EFTA”) and Washington law, including the Washington Consumer Protection Act.

Defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing and liability. The Court did not decide who is right. Instead, the Parties agreed to a settlement, reached after arm’s-length negotiations with the assistance of an experienced mediator, to avoid the cost, delay, and uncertainty of continued litigation. The Court granted final approval of the Settlement on October 19, 2026.

The Court has appointed Ashley Hall as Class Representative and Sirianni Youtz Spoonemore Hamburger PLLC of Seattle, Washington as Class Counsel.

Who Is Included: The Class Definitions

On July 2, 2026, the Court certified the following two classes for settlement purposes:

Nationwide Class

Washington Subclass

What the Settlement Provides

$4,200,000 Non-Reversionary Settlement Fund

The Settlement creates a $4,200,000 fund to pay valid claims, the costs of notice and administration, Court-approved attorney’s fees and costs, and a case contribution award to the Plaintiff. No portion of the fund will revert to Defendants.

Payments to Class Members

Each Class Member who submits a valid claim is entitled to a minimum award of $15.00 plus three times the fees incurred on the release card(s) they received, with inactivity fees calculated as if Defendants’ February 3, 2026 reloading of fees had not occurred. If the remaining funds are insufficient to pay all valid claims in full, claims will be paid on a pro rata basis. Class Counsel anticipates—but does not guarantee—that sufficient funds will be available to pay all claims in full. The Settlement is expected to fund in early December 2026, with checks mailed to claimants in December 2026 and January 2027.

Changes to Defendants’ Practices

As part of the Settlement, Defendants have agreed that, going forward: (a) no inactivity fee will be charged until 365 days of inactivity have elapsed; (b) recurring maintenance fees will be eliminated and replaced with a single one-time issuance fee; and (c) Defendants will provide clear notice of alternative payment options in the cardholder agreement provided at the time of card issuance.

Cy Pres Recipients

Any funds remaining after payment of all claims will be distributed in equal shares to Court-approved cy pres recipients, including the Human Rights Defense Center and Public Justice.

Attorney’s Fees, Costs, and Case Contribution Award

Under the Settlement, Class Counsel could apply for attorney’s fees not to exceed 30% of the Settlement Fund, plus reimbursement of litigation costs, and for a case contribution award of $15,000 to Plaintiff Ashley Hall in recognition of her service to the Class, all to be paid from the fund and subject to Court approval. Class Counsel filed that motion on September 8, 2026; it is available in the Documents section below.

Release of Claims

Class Members who did not opt out have released Rapid and Axiom from all claims relating to release cards and release-card fees that were or could have been brought in this lawsuit.

Your Rights and Options

Documents

Key pleadings, orders, and settlement documents are available below. The Court’s final approval order will be posted when available.

• Settlement Agreement Agreement to Settle Claims (Dkt. 28-1, filed July 1, 2026)
• Class Notice (Long Form) Court-approved long-form notice, as distributed to Class Members
• Class Notice (Short Form / Postcard) Court-approved short-form mailed notice, as distributed to Class Members
• Order Preliminarily Approving Settlement Agreement Order preliminarily approving the Settlement, approving class notice, appointing the Settlement Administrator, and setting the Fairness Hearing (Dkt. 32, July 2, 2026)
• Order Granting Settlement Class Certification Order certifying the Nationwide Class and Washington Subclass for settlement purposes (Dkt. 31, July 2, 2026)
• Class Action Complaint Complaint filed January 16, 2025 (Dkt. 1)
• Motion for Attorney’s Fees, Costs, and Case Contribution Award, with Supporting Declaration Filed September 8, 2026
• Motion for Final Approval Filed October 12, 2026
• Declaration of Reed in Support of Final Approval Filed October 12, 2026
• Supplemental Declaration of Richard E. Spoonemore in Support of Final Approval Filed October 12, 2026
• [Proposed] Order Granting Final Approval Filed October 12, 2026
• Paper Claim Form Paper Claim Form

Contact Information