Makotz Corp. $187,500 Wage and Hour Class Action Settlement

Individuals who worked as hourly employees at a Makotz restaurant or entity in Washington state between Feb. 20, 2022, and Jan. 20, 2026, may be eligible to receive a cash payment from a class action settlement.

Makotz Corp. agreed to pay $187,500 to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging violations of Washington wage-and-hour laws. The lawsuit claimed Makotz failed to pay overtime, did not provide required meal and rest breaks, engaged in improper tip pooling, failed to provide accurate wage statements and did not reimburse certain expenses.

Who are the class members?

Individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

• They worked for Makotz Corp. or any of its restaurants or entities in Washington state.
• They held a position paid on an hourly basis (nonexempt).
• Makotz employed them at any time between Feb. 20, 2022, and Jan. 20, 2026.

Eligible roles include but are not limited to:

• Servers
• Bartenders
• Cooks
• Greeters
• Any other hourly, nonexempt positions with similar job duties

How much can class members get?

The settlement administrator will distribute the net settlement fund, after deductions for attorneys’ fees, service awards and administration costs, to participating class members on a pro rata basis. The amount each class member receives will depend on the number of hours they worked as an hourly, nonexempt employee during the class period.

Here’s how the calculation works:

• The settlement administrator will determine the net settlement fund by subtracting court-approved deductions from the $187,500 gross settlement amount.
• It will then divide the net fund by the total number of eligible hours all participating class members worked during the class period. This yields a per-hour rate.
• It calculates each class member’s payment by multiplying the per-hour rate by the number of eligible hours they worked.

Additional details:

• The settlement administrator will split each payment equally: 50% as taxable wages (reported on a W-2) and 50% as nonwage compensation (interest and/or liquidated damages reported on a 1099)
• Makotz will pay the employer’s share of payroll taxes.

No action needed to receive compensation

Class members do not need to file a claim to receive compensation. The settlement administrator will use Makotz’s employment records to determine eligibility and calculate each payment.

The settlement administrator will automatically mail checks to all class members who do not opt out. Each check will have a void date (at least 90 days after mailing). If the class member does not cash the check by the void date, the settlement administrator will cancel and not reissue it. The administrator will donate uncashed funds to the Washington state unclaimed property fund and the Legal Foundation of Washington.

Settlement administrator’s mailing address: Makotz Settlement, c/o Atticus Administration, P.O. Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164

$187,500 settlement fund breakdown

The $187,500 settlement fund includes:

• Settlement administration costs: Up to $12,000
• Attorneys’ fees: Up to $56,250
• Attorneys’ expenses: Up to $20,000
• Service award to class representative: Up to $22,500
• Payments to class members: Estimated at $96,750

Important dates

• Opt-out deadline: March 15, 2026
• Final approval hearing: April 24, 2026

When is the Huang v. Makotz Corp. payout date?

The settlement administrator will mail payments to eligible class members approximately 24 days after the court resolves all appeals and grants final approval to the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged Makotz violated Washington wage-and-hour laws.

Makotz denies all wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of continued litigation.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Settlement agreement
3. Settlement FAQ
4. Important dates