Biola University $190,000 Wage and Reimbursement Settlement

Employees who worked as exempt part-time adjunct faculty members, exempt employees who worked remotely or full-time faculty members required to work remotely for Biola University in California during certain periods may qualify to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

Biola University Inc. agreed to pay $190,000 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it misclassified adjunct faculty, failed to pay all wages due and failed to reimburse certain employees for remote work expenses.

Who are the class members?

The class action settlement outlines three distinct groups of class members:

• Adjunct class: All individuals Biola University employed in California as exempt part-time adjunct faculty during the period from Aug. 16, 2021, through March 31, 2025
• Reimbursement class: All exempt employees in California whom Biola knew or should have known they performed some or all work duties remotely or away from campus between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2025. This group does not include full-time faculty (covered in the next group), student employees or employees whose job duties could not be performed remotely (such as campus safety officers and facilities workers).
• Full-time faculty reimbursement class: All faculty members whom Biola University defined internally as full-time faculty who were required or expected to work remotely between April 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2021

Each class is based on specific employment records Biola University maintained. Individuals who received a settlement notice are likely included in one or more of these groups.

How much can class members get?

The total settlement fund is $190,000. After court-approved deductions for attorney fees, costs, service awards and administration, the estimated net settlement amount available for class members is approximately $96,666.67.

The net settlement is divided between the groups as follows:

• Adjunct class members: The settlement allocates 60% of the net settlement amount to this group, which the settlement administrator will distribute pro rata based on the number of pay periods each member worked during the adjunct class period.
• Reimbursement class members and full-time faculty reimbursement class members: The settlement allocates 40% of the net settlement amount to these groups, which the settlement administrator will also distribute pro rata based on the number of pay periods each member worked during the reimbursement class period. The settlement weighs any pay period in which an individual received remote technology reimbursement as 0.5.

No action needed to receive payment

Class members do not need to submit a claim form to receive payment. The settlement administrator will mail a check to eligible class members at the same address they mailed the settlement notice. Class members who moved should notify the administrator to update their address.

To challenge their pay period count, class members should submit copies (not originals) of records, such as pay stubs or other employment records) to the administrator by Nov. 24, 2025.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Patton v. Biola University Inc., Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799, info@PattonvsBiolaUniversitySettlement.com

Payout options

• The settlement administrator will mail checks to the address on file.
• Recipients must cash checks within 180 days of issuance. The settlement administrator will void uncashed checks and donate the funds to Samaritan’s Purse.

$190,000 settlement fund breakdown

The $190,000 settlement fund covers:

• Settlement administration costs: Estimated at $15,000
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $63,333.33
• Attorneys' expenses: Up to $10,000
• Service award to class representative: Up to $5,000
• Payments to class members: Estimated at $96,666.67

Important dates

• Opt-out deadline: Nov. 24, 2025
• Dispute deadline (challenge pay periods): Nov. 24, 2025
• Final approval hearing: Feb. 18, 2026

When is the Patton v. Biola University settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will mail payments to participating class members after it completes all administrative steps and the court grants final approval.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

The class action lawsuit claims Biola University misclassified certain adjunct faculty as exempt, failed to pay all wages due and did not reimburse remote work expenses for some employees.

Biola University denies any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the costs and uncertainties of litigation.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Settlement agreement
3. Settlement FAQ