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Individuals who worked as dancers or entertainers at certain Ohio clubs at any time between May 14, 2014, and June 16, 2025, may be eligible to claim a share of a class action settlement. The clubs include Cheeks in West Carrollton, Private Dancer in Columbus, Top Hat in Mansfield, House of Babes in Columbus, Fantasyland West in Bucyrus or Sirens in Columbus.
Cleveland Ave. Restaurant Inc. and related defendants agreed to pay $800,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging violations of wage-and-hour laws, improper classification of dancers as independent contractors and other related claims. The lawsuit alleges Cleveland Ave. required dancers to sign lease agreements and paid fees instead of wages, which the plaintiffs claim violated both federal and Ohio law.
Who can file a claim?
Class members include all current and former dancers who meet all of the following criteria:
- They worked as a non-owner, non-employer exotic dancer or entertainer at one or more of the following Ohio clubs: Cheeks (West Carrollton), Private Dancer (Columbus), Top Hat (Mansfield), House of Babes (Columbus), Fantasyland West (Bucyrus) or Sirens (Columbus).
- They worked at any time between May 14, 2014, and June 16, 2025.
- During their employment, the club:
- Used the entertainer tenant system created by Greg Flaig; or
- Required them to sign and abide by the entertainer tenant space lease agreement created by Greg Flaig; or
- Formally regarded them as leasing space at the club as an entertainer and required them to acknowledge the same
- The club did not pay them any wages during the relevant period.
How much can class members get?
Pro rata cash payment: Class members can submit a claim to receive a pro rata cash payment from the net settlement fund. The settlement administrator will determine the final payment amount by the total number of valid claims filed.
How to claim a settlement payment
To receive a settlement payout, eligible class members can file a claim online or contact the settlement administrator for a paper claim form to complete and return.
Settlement administrator's mailing address: Hogan v. Cleveland Ave. Restaurant, c/o Atticus Administration, P.O. Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164
Settlement administrator's email address: info@ohiostripclubcase.com
Settlement administrator's phone number: 800-417-8907
The claim deadline is Oct. 20, 2026.
Required claim information
Claimants filing online must provide the ID number they received in their settlement notice.
Payout options
- Paper check mailed to the address provided
$800,000 settlement fund
The $800,000 settlement fund includes:
- Settlement administrator's fees: To be determined
- Attorneys' fees: $266,666.67
- Litigation expenses: $15,293.49
- Service awards: $5,000 each ($10,000 total)
- Payments to approved claimants: Remaining settlement funds
Important dates
- Deadline to file a claim: Oct. 20, 2026
- Deadline to opt out: Oct. 25, 2026
- Final approval hearing: Dec. 1, 2026
When is the Cleveland Ave. Restaurant wage and hour settlement payout date?
The settlement administrator will issue payments to approved claimants approximately 51 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement.
Why is there a class action settlement?
The class action lawsuit alleged Cleveland Ave. Restaurant Inc. misclassified dancers at several Ohio strip clubs as independent contractors and required them to sign lease agreements in which they did not receive wages and instead had to pay fees. The plaintiffs claimed these practices violated federal and Ohio wage-and-hour laws, as well as other statutes.
The defendants denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of further litigation. As part of the settlement, the defendants also agreed to permanently stop using their entertainer tenant system.
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