Mai Kai Restaurant $85,000 Wage and Hour Settlement

Servers who worked at Mai Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between Nov. 15, 2024, and Jan. 15, 2026, may be eligible to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

The Mad Room Hospitality LLC agreed to pay $85,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging violations of wage-and-hour laws, including the Florida Minimum Wage Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. The lawsuit claimed the company failed to provide proper tip credit notice, required excessive non-tipped side work, made servers pay for uniforms and other required items, and did not pay wages during orientation and training periods.

Who can file a claim?

Individuals must have worked as a restaurant server at Mai Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between Nov. 15, 2024, and Jan. 15, 2026.

The settlement includes two groups:

• Class members: All servers who worked at Mai Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show during the specified period
• Collective members: Servers who, in addition to the above, worked more than 40 hours in one or more workweeks during the same period

Individuals can be part of both groups.

How much can class members get?

The total settlement fund is $85,000. Each eligible class and collective member who submits a valid claim will receive a payment based on the number of hours they worked during the class period. The estimated payment is approximately $2.27 per hour worked, but the settlement administrator may reduce this amount after deductions for attorneys’ fees, administration costs and the service award to the class representative.

The administrator will split payments 50% as wage income (reported on Form W-2) and 50% as nonwage income (reported on Form 1099 if required by law).

How to claim an award

To receive a settlement payment, individuals must file a claim online or mail their completed claim form to the settlement administrator. There is no PDF claim form available for download.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: ILYM Group Inc., Re: Mai Kai Litigation, P.O. Box 2031, Tustin, CA 92781

The claim deadline is Aug. 7, 2026.

Required information

To file an online claim, class members must provide their last name and the ILYM ID located in the bottom right-hand corner of their class notice.

Payout options

The settlement administrator will mail checks to the address provided on the class member's claim form.

$85,000 settlement fund breakdown

The $85,000 settlement fund covers:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys’ fees: $28,333.30
• Attorneys’ expenses: To be determined
• Service award to class representative: $10,000
• Payments to approved class members: Remaining funds

Important dates

• Deadline to file a claim: Aug. 7, 2026
• Deadline to opt out: Aug. 7, 2026
• Final approval hearing: Sept. 16, 2026

When is the Cannet v. The Mad Room Hospitality LLC payout date?

The settlement administrator will mail payments within 30 calendar days after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged The Mad Room Hospitality LLC violated wage-and-hour laws by failing to provide proper tip credit notice, requiring excessive non-tipped side work, not reimbursing for uniforms and other required items, and not paying wages during orientation and training.

The company denied these claims but agreed to settle to avoid the costs and risks of litigation. The court did not determine who was right or wrong.

Sources

1. Settlement website
2. Class notice