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This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
Update 2:
- Top Class Actions readers have reported receiving payments from this settlement.
- Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!
Update:
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Final approval was granted for this class action settlement on March 14, 2023.
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Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
Sterling Jewelers agreed to pay over $175 million to resolve class action lawsuit claims it discriminated against women working at its stores.
The settlement benefits women employed as part-time sales associates, full-time sales associates, department managers, assistant managers, assistant general managers, store managers or general managers at Belden, Friedlanders, Goodman, Jared, JB Robinson, Kay, LeRoys, LeVian, Marks & Morgan, Osterman, Rogers, Shaws, Weisfield or Ultra Diamonds (after being acquired by Sterling) retail stores.
These class members are part of the Title VII Settlement Class and/or the EPA Settlement Class.
The Title VII Class includes female workers employed by Sterling between July 22, 2004, and May 2, 2018.
The EPA Class includes women who worked for Sterling and submitted forms consenting to join the EPA case in 2016.
Sterling Jewelers is an American company that sells jewelry through a number of subsidiaries including Kay Jewelers, Zales and more. The company is owned by Signet Jewelers.
According to a class action lawsuit, women employed at Sterling Jewelers stores were routinely discriminated against. The company allegedly paid its female workers less than their male counterparts and denied them promotions despite the women being qualified.
Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim that these practices violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Pay Act.
Sterling Jewelers denies any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $175.37 million to resolve these allegations. Of that amount, $125 million will be used to fund class member payments.
Under the terms of the Sterling Jewelers lawsuit settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on the number of years they worked for Sterling Jewelers, their position and their class membership.
Members of the Title VII Class will receive payments based on their position. Store managers and general managers will receive $2,996 per year they worked for Sterling. Assistant managers and assistant general managers will receive $1,928 per year. Department managers will receive $1,196 per year. Full-time sales associates will receive $672 per year, and part-time sales associates will receive $270 per year.
Members of the EPA Class will receive similar payments. Store managers and general managers will receive $2,996 per year they worked for Sterling. Assistant managers and assistant general managers will receive $1,361 per year. Department managers will receive $1,152 per year. Full-time sales associates will receive $500 per year, and part-time sales associates will receive $150 per year.
Class members who are part of both classes will receive both types of payments under the settlement.
Twenty-five percent of each payment will be considered income or interest and result in a 1099 tax form. The remaining 75% of each payment will be considered wages and result in a W-2 tax form.
Funds remaining after the first distribution may be used to fund a second round of checks to consumers who cashed their initial checks.
Any funds remaining after that distribution will be donated to a fund promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (25% of remaining funds) and one or more nonprofits that serve the interests of women in the workplace (75% of remaining funds).
As part of the Sterling Jewelers class action lawsuit settlement, the company agreed to retain a third party expert to evaluate its pay and promotion policies for fairness and, if necessary, help the company revise these practices. The company will also offer mentorship programs for women, improve its parental leave policy and develop its workplace complaint investigation practices.
The deadline for exclusion and objection is Sept. 27, 2022.
The final approval hearing for the Sterling Jewelers lawsuit settlement is scheduled for Nov. 15, 2022.
Class members may update their address on the settlement website to ensure they receive payments.
No claim form is required to benefit from the settlement. Class members who do not exclude themselves will automatically receive a settlement payment in the mail.
Who’s Eligible
The settlement benefits women employed as part-time sales associates, full-time sales associates, department managers, assistant managers, assistant general managers, store managers or general managers at Belden, Friedlanders, Goodman, Jared, JB Robinson, Kay, LeRoys, LeVian, Marks & Morgan, Osterman, Rogers, Shaws, Weisfield or Ultra Diamonds (after being acquired by Sterling) retail stores.
Potential Award
Varies
Proof of Purchase
No proof of purchase applicable
Exclusion and Objection Deadline
09/27/2022
Case Name
Jock, et al. V. Sterling Jewelers Inc., Case No. 08 civ. 2875 (s.D.N.Y.), and Case No. 11-16-00655-08 (aaa), before the American Arbitration Association
Final Hearing
11/15/2022
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Jock v. Sterling Jewelers Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 6968
Portland, OR 97228-6968
800-231-1918
Class Counsel
Joseph M. Sellers
Kalpana Kotagal
Harini Srinivasan
COHEN MILSTEIN SELLERS & TOLL PLLC
Sam J Smith
Loren B Donnell
BURR & SMITH LLP
Thomas A Warren
THOMAS A WARREN LAW OFFICES PL
Barry Goldstein
Defense Counsel
Michael L Banks
Sarah E Bouchard
W John Lee
MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
Jeffrey S Klein
CLARICK GUERON REISBAUM LLP
Celine Chan
WEIL GOTSHAL & MANGES LL
Christina M Janice
BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
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100 thoughts onSterling Jewelers discrimination $175M class action lawsuit settlement
I see in our USPS email preview of what’s coming in today (free from the Post Office) an envelope from JOCK V STERLING JEWELERS INC.
Are we getting 2 checks?
Anyone get there checks yet???
They should be going out the first week of May.
I’m sure we are all getting the minimum of $50
According to a website, checks began being mailed on April 24, 2023.
I just got mine. It was definitely less than I was anticipating!
Yikes! The amount didn’t match up with the numbers they quoted?
How long did you work for the company?
The orginal class action website was updated with dollar amounts awarded per day. Not sure if it matched what was on there or not. That breakdown is definitely different than what was reported in our initial payout information.
With the new breakdown that was listed, it’s INCREDIBLY different than what was initially quoted. That site also stated how they got some outside agency to do the numbers breakdown BY DAYS WORKED. I’m sure that agency got their cut. Crazy!
They definitely gave us less than what they originally said , it like they did pay us for the years we were employed there or the dollar amount they quoted, plus we were taxed
They definitely gave us less than what they originally said , it like they didn’t pay us for the years we were employed there or the dollar amount they quoted, plus we were taxed
What was the new break down amounts?
Title VII Settlement Class: Monetary relief was allocated based on the number of days Settlement Class members worked in covered positions during the period of July 22, 2004, to May 2, 2018, as follows:
$6.72 per day employed as a store manager or general manager;
$4.32 per day employed as an assistant manager or assistant general manager;
$2.68 per day employed as a department manager;
$1.51 per day employed as a full-time sales associate; and
$0.61 per day employed as a part-time sales associate.
The minimum amount that any member of the Title VII Settlement Class will be awarded is $50.00.
Are office managers included as department managers?
The amounts everyone is receiving is 40% less then they quoted. My question is what happened to that money, because that’s a lot of money. Full time associates were suppose to get 672.00 per years worked, and they are getting 392.00.
Wow! How crappy was that check! This company screws you even when you are not there any more.
It gets worse. My bank won’t clear the check yet for this reason: they have confidential information that the check will be returned and is subject to further review.
I was fired from J.B. Robinson because I wasn’t getting my so called “Required” 2 credit apps per day. I also didn’t understand at the time why my male coworker was making more money than me for the same position based on what was called “Experienced”. Ive hated this company for so long.
I was with the company for 15 years…. Was diagnosed with breast cancer and continued to work receiving chemo and radiation. My supervisor said I picked a fine time to get sick!!!! I was a manager for 15 years…. Giving them my time and life. They laid me off during the pandemic….and “couldn’t find a position for me”. They gave me a small severance package and said take it or leave it!!!!
Thank you for the update Brittany!! WE all deserve this!
Halayula 😁
It’s approved!!! It’s approved!!! Checks will be mailed by first week in May, 2023!!!!! Thank you Jesus!!
The payout amounts are very confusing to me. I was a department manager then promoted to assistant manager, then promoted to store manager, then promoted to DM. All during the times included in the lawsuit. I’m not sure what to expect.
How did you figure this out?
The main settlement page. They posted an update.
Ohhhhh ok! I do hope the checks get mailed when they say they will!
With Kay for 19 years. They need to pay out. We have been waiting long enough
Got an email on the 10th for verification of my address
Could you tell me who the email came from because I don’t think I ever got one and I updated my info 4 times..
Check your junk mail that’s where I found mine
Judge signed off March 14 they have 30 days to appeal. Should start sending checks in May
Go to Top Class action on fb go to recent texts. It will show u.
I went to their Twitter page and posed that question, no reply. Maybe if we bombard their media pages and make the public aware of their lack of urgency. It makes me sick to see their latest posts about International Women’s Day when they don’t give two shits about their female employees. Another 3 years to get paid? They don’t care. They couldn’t care less!
Payments go out the first week of May!
Wonder when they will get sued for making employees fill out bogus credit apps with bogus SSN to hit their goal for the day or adding PPP without the customers knowledge or consent.
Everyday! You can take the PPP off the next day right! I have not worked for the company in over 10 years and still have nightmares!!!
Thank you to everyone that has posted. By having read the documents they sent us, I made the assumption payment was going to be made pretty quickly after the settlement agreement took place in November. Clearly this is not going to be the case. Just like working there – you have to wait, and wait, and wait and get pushed aside until they feel like good and ready. Hopefully one of us will receive a check and inform the rest of us to be on the look out – I have finally stopped checking my mail with anticipation.
Me as well!