IHOP franchise wage-and-hour $965K class action settlement

Harvest Hospitalities, a holder IHOP franchises, agreed to a $965,000 settlement to resolve class action lawsuit claims it underpaid workers under federal and state laws.

The settlement benefits hourly employees of Harvest Hospitalities who worked for the company’s IHOP franchises in Pennsylvania between June 12, 2017, and Jan. 17, 2021; in New Jersey between Sept. 28, 2015, and Jan. 17, 2021; in Maryland between Sept. 28, 2018, and Jan. 17, 2021; or in Virginia between Sept. 28, 2018, and Jan. 17, 2021.

Harvest Hospitalities is a Virginia-based company that operates IHOP restaurants in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. According to the company’s website, Harvest Hospitalities is a “leading independent franchisee of IHOP.”

According to four class action lawsuits, Harvest Hospitalities fails to properly pay its hourly workers under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state laws. The company allegedly violates these laws when paying both server and non-server hourly workers. Plaintiffs in the four class actions sought compensation for unpaid regular and overtime wages.

Harvest Hospitalities and other defendants haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $965,000 class action settlement to resolve these allegations.

Of the total settlement amount, $554,235 will be used as a payment fund. 

Under the terms of the IHOP class action lawsuit settlement, class members can receive a cash payment based on the number of workweeks they worked during the class period. 

Each class member will receive a proportional share of the settlement fund based on these facts, but exact payments will vary. Class members may have received a minimum allocation estimate as a part of their mailed notices.

IHOP lawsuit settlement payments will be distributed in two installations. The first payment installation will be paid around three weeks after the court grants final approval. The second payment installation will be paid in July 2024.

Payments will be classified as wage income for tax purposes. Class members may want to consult with a tax professional about taxes on these payments.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Nov. 14, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the IHOP lawsuit settlement is scheduled for Dec. 8, 2022.

In order to receive a settlement payment, class members must submit a valid claim form. No claim deadline is listed in the settlement notice, but class members should submit their claims as soon as possible to ensure they receive payments.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits hourly employees of Harvest Hospitalities who worked for the company’s IHOP franchises in Pennsylvania between June 12, 2017, and Jan. 17, 2021; in New Jersey between Sept. 28, 2015, and Jan. 17, 2021; in Maryland between Sept. 28, 2018, and Jan. 17, 2021; or in Virginia between Sept. 28, 2018, and Jan. 17, 2021.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

TBD

Case Name

Taylor Duke v. Harvest Hospitalities, Inc., et al., No. 2:20-cv-865-CCW, in the United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania

Morales, et al. v. Harvest Hospitalities, Inc., et al., No. 1:21-cv-2482- JKB, in the United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania

Wilson, et al. v. Harvest Hospitalities, Inc., et al., No. 2:21-cv-4274-TJS, in the United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania  

Royal, et al. v. Harvest Hospitalities, Inc., et al., No. 3:21-cv-17737-AETLHG, in the United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania

Final Hearing

12/08/2022

Settlement Website

HarvestSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Harvest Hospitalities Settlement
c/o Rust Consulting, Inc. – 7750
PO Box 2396
Faribault, MN 55021-9096
admin@HarvestSettlement.com
877-389-4485

Class Counsel

Joseph H Chivers
THE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS GROUP LLC

Jeffrey W Chivers
Theodore I Rostow
CHIVERS LLP

Defense Counsel

Sunshine R Fellows
Chloe C Zidian
LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP