Bright Lending Settlement: Automatic Cash or Debt Cancelled

What happened

Class period: October 1, 2020 through June 4, 2026 (Monetary Relief Class); October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024 (Debt Relief Class)

• The lawsuit challenges online loans made by Aaniiih Nakoda Finance, LLC, doing business as Bright Lending.
• It says Bright Lending charged interest rates far above the limits allowed under Illinois and other state laws, and that the defendants are legally responsible for those loans.
• The defendants are Bright Lending, Taylor McCabe, William Bell, Lyolene Dillon, Jarrett Azure, Ticia Cliff, Doug Stuart, Frank Doney, BWDS, LLC, and Benjamin Gatzke.
• The case is Dixon v. Gatzke, Case No. 1:24-cv-11834, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, before Judge Matthew F. Kennelly.
• The defendants deny wrongdoing but agreed to a $15,000,000 cash fund plus debt cancellation.
• It affects Bright Lending borrowers nationwide, except residents of Nevada and Utah.

What you can get

Key dates

Who may qualify

• Monetary Relief Class: you are a U.S. resident, took out at least one Bright Lending loan between October 1, 2020 and June 4, 2026, and fully paid back at least one loan
• Debt Relief Class: you are a U.S. resident, took out at least one Bright Lending loan between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024, did not fully pay back at least one loan, and are not in the Monetary Relief Class
• Residents of Nevada and Utah are excluded from both classes
• You cannot be in both classes, but a Monetary Relief Class member may still get debt cancellation on a separate unpaid loan
• If you received a Notice, Bright Lending's records show you are in one of the classes

How to file

1. No claim form is needed; cash payments and debt cancellation are automatic if the Court approves the settlement
2. Cash payments are mailed by check to the address on your Notice by default
3. To get paid by ACH, Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle instead, go to https://www.brightlendingsettlement.com/page/preclaim by December 21, 2026
4. To update your mailing address, use https://www.brightlendingsettlement.com/page/update-address with your Notice ID and PIN by December 21, 2026
5. Check your estimated award around November 15, 2026 at https://www.brightlendingsettlement.com/page/award using your last name and the unique ID on your Notice

Proof required

• No claim form or documents are required
• Class membership and payment amounts are based on Bright Lending's records
• A name change requires a copy of your marriage license, divorce decree, or court order
• For a deceased class member, send a death certificate and proof of the new payee's legal right (such as a will or estate documents)

Payment timing

Payments and debt cancellation happen after the settlement becomes final and effective (hearing January 19, 2027). Cash is sent by check unless you choose ACH, Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle by December 21, 2026. A second distribution may go to people who cashed their first check if funds remain.

Important links

• Official website
• Claim form
• Important dates
• FAQs
• Documents

Contact

Extra details

• Attorneys' fees (up to 33.33% of the fund) plus expenses and service awards ($10,000 to Plaintiff Dixon and $1,000 to Plaintiff Flamini) come out of the $15 million fund
• Class Counsel's fee request will be posted on the documents page at least 14 days before the December 21, 2026 objection deadline
• Once final, Bright Lending will stop collection on covered balances, will not sell those loans, and will not sell class members' personal information for marketing
• Monetary Relief Class members release all claims about any Bright Lending loan; Debt Relief Class members only give up group actions and keep the right to an individual lawsuit or arbitration
• To opt out, mail a signed letter with the case name (Dixon v. Gatzke), your name, address, phone, and the statement "I request to be excluded from the class settlement in this case," postmarked by December 21, 2026, to the administrator; you cannot opt out of only part of the settlement
• To object, file or mail your objection to the Clerk of the Court, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604, and send a copy to the administrator by mail or email, all by December 21, 2026
• The Final Approval Hearing is by phone at 9:00 a.m. on January 19, 2027 before Judge Matthew F. Kennelly; call 650-479-3207, access code 2305-915-8729
• Class Counsel are John Albanese and Ariana Kiener of Berger Montague P.C., info@bergermontague.com, (612) 594-5999
• Do not contact the Court, the Judge, the defendants, or their lawyers about this settlement
• Watch for scams: use the official site only

FAQ

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