Libre By Nexus Detention Fees $750K Class Action Settlement

Individuals who paid fees to Libre By Nexus may be eligible to benefit from an $800,000 class action settlement. 

The settlement Class includes all current and former Libre By Nexus “program participants” and “sponsors” who paid, or caused to be paid on their behalf, a fee to the company.

The Class is composed of three Subclasses:

• Current Program Participant Payment Subclass: All current Libre By Nexus program participants and sponsors who paid, or caused to be paid, or caused to be paid on their behalf, a fee to the company.
• Former and Current Program Participant Payment Subclass: All former Libre By Nexus program participants who paid, or caused to be paid on their behalf, a Program Payment to Libre By Nexus and all current company program participants who, within six months of final approval of the settlement, have been issued a Form I-391.
• Sponsor Payment Subclass: All sponsors of members of the former and current Program Participants Payments Subclass who paid a fee to Libre By Nexus, including any initial payment or setup fee.

Plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit alleged Libre by Nexus deceived consumers into believing the company was their only option to leave U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, that the financial terms were manageable, that the company could return them to detention, and that wearing one of Libre by Nexus’ ankle bracelets would not be onerous.

Libre By Nexus, which touts itself as a legal aid service that can help reunite families, denies all allegations of wrongdoing. 

The benefits each Class Member is entitled to vary depending on which Subclass they belong to.

All members of the Former and Current Program Participant Payment Subclass or the Sponsor Payment Subclass who provide the participant’s I-391 to Libre By Nexus or the settlement administrator in a timely manner and who do not opt out of the settlement will receive a check or electronic payment.

The actual amount of each award will be determined by the number of eligible Class Members six months after the settlement received final approval, and the number of eligible Class Members who cash or otherwise negotiate their payments.

This payment will be made from the net settlement fund after attorneys’ fees and other costs are paid.

Members of the Current Program Participant Payment Subclass will receive debt relief consisting of credits to the accounts of current program participants for past-due program fees and owing as of the date the plaintiffs filed their motion for preliminary approval of the settlement.

The debt relief will amount to $3.2 million, minus the cash settlement amount of $750,000, attorneys’ fees, and other costs.

Current Program Participant Subclass Members who make three consecutive monthly payments on time and in full will receive a 10 percent reduction in their monthly recurring fee going forward. 

If they make an additional three consecutive monthly payments on time and in full, they will see a further 10 percent reduction from the original fee amount going forward, for a total of 20 percent. 

In addition, Current Program Participant Subclass Members who pay more than $420 in monthly recurring program fees, and who make their payments on time and in full by the first of the month, will have the recurring fees for those months reduced to $415. 

Payments will not exceed the amount of the participant’s immigration bond.

In addition to this relief, Libre By Nexus also has agreed to a number of business practices, including translating its contract into Spanish and other languages for which there are at least 5 percent of the program participants, abstain from verbal or written threats to report participants to ICE, and discontinuing the use of ankle bracelets for program participants whose bond is less than $7,500, among others.

A fairness hearing in the Libre By Nexus settlement was held Dec. 9, 2020.

The deadlines for opting out of or objecting to the settlement have passed.

Those who would like to receive a payment in this settlement must submit Form I-391 by May 21, 2021, if Libre By Nexus does not have a record of the participant receiving the form.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement Class includes all current and former Libre By Nexus “program participants” and “sponsors” who paid, or caused to be paid on their behalf, a fee to the company.

The Class is composed of three Subclasses:

• Current Program Participant Payment Subclass: All current Libre By Nexus program participants and sponsors who paid, or caused to be paid, or caused to be paid on their behalf, a fee to the company.
• Former and Current Program Participant Payment Subclass: All former Libre By Nexus program participants who paid, or caused to be paid on their behalf, a Program Payment to Libre By Nexus and all current company program participants who, within six months of final approval of the settlement, have been issued a Form I-391.
• Sponsor Payment Subclass: All sponsors of members of the former and current Program Participants Payments Subclass who paid a fee to Libre By Nexus, including any initial payment or setup fee.

Potential Award

Varies.

The benefits each Class Member is entitled to vary depending on which Subclass they belong to.

All members of the Former and Current Program Participant Payment Subclass or the Sponsor Payment Subclass who provide the participant’s I-391 to Libre By Nexus or the settlement administrator in a timely manner and who do not opt out of the settlement will receive a check or electronic payment.

The actual amount of each award will be determined by the number of eligible Class Members six months after the settlement received final approval, and the number of eligible Class Members who cash or otherwise negotiate their payments.

Debt relief and other, non-monetary relief is also provided under the terms of the settlement.

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase is required.

However, those who would like to receive a payment in this settlement must submit Form I-391 by May 21, 2021, if Libre By Nexus does not have a record of the participant receiving the form.

Form I-391

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Form Deadline

05/21/2021

Case Name

Vasquez, et al. v. Libre By Nexus, Case No. 4:17-cv-00755-CW in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Final Hearing

12/09/2020

Settlement Website

LBNSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Vasquez et al. v. Libre by Nexus
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91226
Seattle, WA 98111
1-888-383-0352

Class Counsel

CENTRO LEGAL DE LA RAZA

MIGLIACCIO & RATHOD LLP

TYCKO & ZAVAREEI LLP

Defense Counsel

DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP