Duffy's $500,000 Wage and Hour Class Action Settlement

Duffy's HR Inc. and Duffy's Holdings Inc.

Employees who worked as a server, bartender, barback, busser, front-of-house trainee, food runner, host (front door), to-go server, server assistant or service bartender for Duffy’s at 1804 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 between June 19, 2019, and June 30, 2024, may qualify to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.

Duffy’s HR Inc. and Duffy’s Holdings Inc. agreed to pay up to $500,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging they failed to pay full minimum wage to certain tipped employees and did not provide proper notice regarding the use of a tip credit.

Who can file a Duffy's claim?

Individuals are eligible to participate in the settlement if they:

Worked for Duffy’s as a full- or part-time employee at 1804 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Held one or more of the following positions: server, bartender, barback, busser, front-of-house trainee, food runner, host (front door), to-go server, server assistant or service bartender
Were employed between June 19, 2019, and June 30, 2024
Were paid at a tip credit rate (a direct wage less than the Florida minimum wage)
Did not receive proper notice from Duffy’s that a tip credit would be taken against their wages

Eligibility is determined based on Duffy’s employment records. Those who received a notice about this settlement are identified as a potential class member.

How much can class members get?

Pro rata payment: The total settlement fund is $500,000, which covers payments to class members, attorneys’ fees, litigation costs, administration expenses and a service award to the named plaintiff.

The remaining funds are distributed among participating class members based on the number of hours each person worked at a tip credit rate during the relevant period and the number of valid claims submitted. The more qualifying hours worked, the larger the share of the net settlement fund.

The anticipated settlement payment is split evenly: 50% is reported as W-2 wages (subject to payroll taxes) and 50% as 1099 non-wage income (not subject to payroll taxes).

How to claim a wage and hour payment

To receive a payment, eligible class members must submit an online claim form or complete and mail the paper claim form they received in the mail. The claim deadline is Sept. 8, 2025.

Settlement administrator’s mailing address: CAC Services Group, 6420 Flying Cloud Drive, Suite 101, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

What information is required to submit a claim?

To file an online claim, class members must enter the eight-digit claim number and four-digit PIN included on the claim form they received via mail. Those who lost their claim number or PIN or who did not receive the claim form in the mail should call the settlement administrator at 866-602-2260 or complete the contact us form.

Payout options

Settlement payments will be mailed by check to the address provided on the claim form.

$500,000 settlement fund breakdown

The $500,000 settlement fund covers:

Settlement administration costs: $6,350.64
Attorneys’ fees and costs: $166,650
Service award to named plaintiff: $10,000
Payments to eligible class members: Th remainder of the fund

If any settlement checks are not cashed within 120 days, those funds will revert to Duffy’s.

Important dates

Claim deadline: Sept. 8, 2025

When is the settlement payout date?

Payments will be distributed after the settlement becomes final and once any appeals are resolved.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged Duffy’s HR Inc. and Duffy’s Holdings Inc. failed to pay the full minimum wage to tipped employees because they did not provide proper notice that a tip credit would be taken against their wages.

The parties settled the case to avoid the burden, expense and uncertainty of continued litigation. Duffy’s denied any wrongdoing.