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Individuals who applied for a job with Zales or Sterling Jewelers in Washington state between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 26, 2025, may be eligible to submit a claim up to $1,698.21 from a class action settlement. The settlement class includes approximately 1,111 job applicants.
Zale Delaware Inc. (Zales) and Sterling Jewelers Inc. agreed to pay between $1.61 million and $2.44 million to settle a class action lawsuit. The complaint alleged the companies violated Washington’s pay transparency law by posting job openings that either failed to disclose required pay and benefits information or listed pay ranges below the applicable minimum wage.
Who can file a claim?
Class members must meet one of the following criteria:
- Minimum wage settlement class: Eligible class members are Individuals who, between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 26, 2025, applied for a job opening in Washington with Zale Delaware (Zales) or Sterling Jewelers in which the job posting disclosed a wage scale or salary range that started below Washington’s applicable annual minimum wage or the minimum wage in the relevant jurisdiction.
- No pay settlement class: Eligible class members are individuals who, between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 26, 2025, applied for a job opening in Washington with Zale Delaware (Zales) or Sterling Jewelers, where the job posting did not disclose the pay range or benefits information.
How much are settlement payments?
Pro rata cash payment:
- Minimum wage class members will receive a pro rata cash payment estimated at $1,584.47. The settlement administrator will determine the final payment amount by the number of claims filed.
- No pay class members will receive a pro rata cash payment estimated at $1,698.21. The settlement administrator will determine the final payment amount by the number of claims filed.
How to claim a class action rebate
To receive a settlement payment, class members can file a claim online or download, print and complete a PDF claim form (Page 34 of the settlement agreement) and mail or email it to the settlement administrator.
Settlement administrator's mailing address: Lynch v. Zale Delaware Inc., c/o Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799
Settlement administrator's email address: info@ZDIClassActionSettlement.com
The claim deadline is Sept. 28, 2026.
Required claim information
To submit an online claim, class members must provide the login ID and PIN from the settlement notice they received.
Payout options
- Paper check mailed to the address provided
Settlement fund breakdown
The settlement fund of up to $2,440,000 will include:
- Settlement administration costs: Not to exceed $30,000
- Attorneys’ fees: $720,980
- Attorneys’ expenses: $5,000
- Service award to plaintiff: $20,000
- Payments to approved claimants: Remaining settlement funds
Important dates
- Deadline to file a claim: Sept. 28, 2026
- Deadline to opt out: Sept. 28, 2026
- Final approval hearing: Oct. 23, 2026
When is the Zale Delaware job posting settlement payout date?
The settlement administrator will mail payments to approved claimants approximately 58 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement.
Why is there a class action settlement?
This class action lawsuit claimed Zale Delaware Inc. and Sterling Jewelers Inc. violated Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act. The plaintiff claimed job postings either failed to disclose pay and benefits information or listed pay below the minimum wage.
The companies deny any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid the uncertainty and cost of continued litigation.
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