A federal judge has finalized a $12.5 million settlement involving Cash App’s parent company, Block, and thousands of Washington residents who said they received promotional texts without agreeing to them. This approval ends the lawsuit and allows claim payments to begin.
The settlement covers people who had Washington area codes and received Cash App referral texts from November 2019 through August 2025. After fees and required payments are deducted, approximately $8.7 million will be shared among those who submitted valid claims before the October 2024 deadline.
More than 1.97 million people were part of the class, but only a small share filed claims, meaning those who did are expected to receive $88 to $147 each.
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Judge Confirms Terms of the Agreement
U.S. District Judge John Chun approved the settlement, noting that the structure was reasonable and fair to the people affected. This final ruling followed an earlier, preliminary approval given by Judge Marsha J. Pechman in July 2024.
The settlement includes $3.1 million in attorney fees and a $10,000 incentive payment to the lead plaintiff, Kimberly Bottoms. She filed the complaint in 2023 after receiving unwanted messages linked to Cash App’s referral program. The remaining money is reserved for claimants.
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Settlement Fund | $12.5 million |
| Attorney Fees | $3.1 million |
| Lead Plaintiff Award | $10,000 |
| Remaining for Claimants | ~$8.7 million |
How the Complaint Began
The case focused on Cash App’s Invite Friends feature. This tool allowed users to send referral texts to people they knew, and they would earn $5 for every new user who signed up through the message. Many Washington residents said they received these texts even though they never signed up for Cash App or asked for promotional messages.
Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) makes it illegal to send commercial texts without the recipient’s permission. It also applies to companies that create or support systems that send these messages. Bottoms argued that Cash App’s setup allowed unwanted texts to be sent, making Block responsible.
Block questioned whether the law should apply to messages shared through a referral system. Because of this, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown stepped in during late 2024 to defend the state’s law. The court upheld the law and agreed that the messages fell under CEMA’s rules.
Who Was Included in the Settlement
People qualified for the settlement if they:
- Had a Washington state phone area code, and
- Received Cash App promotional texts during the period covered by the lawsuit.
Records showed 1,975,187 people fell into this group. Attorneys believed only a small portion, about 5%, would actually submit claims. This low filing rate is typical in large settlements and results in higher payments for participants.
Expected payments range from $88 to $147, depending on the total number of approved claims. These are estimates based on the remaining settlement fund.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Complaint Filed | Late 2023 |
| Settlement Terms Announced | June 2024 |
| Preliminary Approval Granted | July 29, 2024 |
| Case Assigned to Judge Chun | September 2024 |
| Claim Filing Deadline | October 27, 2024 |
| Final Approval Granted | Early 2025 |
Why the Case Matters
The decision sends a clear message to tech companies and digital platforms. Even if users help send messages through referral programs, companies are still responsible for ensuring those messages comply with state privacy laws.
Referral features are standard tools used by apps to grow their user base. However, this case shows that companies must ensure their systems do not result in unwanted or non-consensual messages. Washington’s strong laws on digital communication played a major role in shaping the outcome.
For residents, the settlement provides compensation for messages they did not request and reinforces their rights under state law.
What Claimants Should Expect
Those who filed claims will receive payments once the settlement administrator completes final checks and processing. Notices will be sent directly to claimants when payments are ready. The method of payment will match the option chosen in the claim form, such as electronic deposit or mailed check.
Cash App has not issued public comments since approval, and any future changes to its referral or messaging system will likely be subject to internal review.
FAQs
What was the lawsuit about?
The case claimed that Cash App’s referral system resulted in unwanted promotional texts being sent to Washington residents without their permission.
Who qualified for the settlement?
Anyone with a Washington area code who received Cash App referral messages between November 2019 and August 2025 and submitted a valid claim.
How much will claimants get?
Approved claimants are expected to receive $88 to $147, depending on how many valid claims were submitted.
Why did the Attorney General get involved?
Attorney General Nick Brown intervened to defend the constitutionality of Washington’s anti-spam law when Block questioned whether it applied to these messages.
When will payments be issued?
Payments will be sent out after the administrator finishes verifying claims and calculating the final amounts.
How will we know
Yes they owe me 800.00 and my roommate they owe 2;500.00 can someone contact me please thanks