TIME is running out to claim checks from $10,000 to $48,000 in a $92.5 million settlement — and no proof is required.
New York City agreed to the payout after a lawsuit claimed officials unlawfully kept people locked up past their release dates.

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The Department of Correction, which runs the city’s jail system, allegedly detained individuals longer than allowed based on requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The lawsuit says detainees were supposed to be held for no more than 48 hours under ICE guidelines.
But many claim they were kept far longer without legal justification, sparking the legal battle that led to this settlement.
There are two groups eligible for money: the Statute of Limitations Group and the Recent Group.
The Statute of Limitations Group includes those over-detained between April 1, 1997, and January 31, 2007.
The Recent Group covers those held past their release between February 1, 2007, and December 21, 2012.
Even though the city denies any wrongdoing, it agreed to pay $92.5 million to close the case and avoid a drawn-out trial.
How much cash you get depends on how long you were unlawfully held.
Recent Group members are expected to pocket between $20,000 and $48,000 on average.
Those in the Statute of Limitations Group are looking at payouts between $10,000 and $24,000.
Best of all, no proof is needed to file a claim.
If you believe you’re eligible, you simply need to fill out and submit a claim form.
The deadline to file your claim is May 15, 2025.
Claims can be submitted online or mailed to the address provided by the settlement administrator.
If you want to object to or opt out of the settlement, you must also act by May 15, 2025.
After that, a final court hearing to approve the payout is set for October 6, 2025.
What’s a class-action settlement?
Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or ‘classes,’ a way to band together in court.
These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.
When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.
Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.
These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.
Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.

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