By Top Class Actions  |  August 25, 2026

Category: Legal News
(Photo Credit: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock)

Zale Delaware Inc. and Sterling Jewelers Inc. have agreed to a $1.61 million class action settlement to resolve claims they violated Washington job pay transparency laws.

The Zale settlement benefits individuals who applied for a job with Zale Delaware and/or Sterling Jewelers in Washington between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 26, 2025, where the job posting either failed to disclose pay or benefits information or listed a wage scale or salary range below Washington’s applicable annual minimum wage.

Zale Delaware and Sterling Jewelers are jewelry companies that sell products under several brands, including Zales, Jared and Kay Jewelers. The companies employ thousands of workers across the country.

According to claims made in the class action lawsuit resolved by this settlement, the companies violate Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act by failing to provide sufficient information about pay and benefits in their job postings. Under Washington law, employers are required to include wage scales, salary ranges and general descriptions of benefits in job postings. The law also requires employers to provide this information to applicants during the hiring process.

According to the equal pay class action lawsuit, Zale Delaware and Sterling Jewelers failed to comply with these requirements. As a result, job applicants claim they were not able to make informed decisions about whether to apply for jobs with the companies.

Zale and Sterling Jewelers have not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to a $1.61 million settlement to resolve these allegations.

Under the terms of the Zale settlement, class members can receive a cash payment. Exact payment amounts will vary depending on the number of participating class members and the amount each class member is eligible to receive.

Class members who applied for jobs that did not disclose wage and salary information can receive up to $2,500 from the settlement. Class members who applied for jobs that disclosed wage scales or salary ranges below minimum wage can receive up to $2,000 from the settlement.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Sept. 28, 2026.

The final approval hearing for the Zale settlement is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026.

To receive settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Sept. 28, 2026.


Who’s Eligible

The class action settlement benefits individuals who applied for a job with Zale Delaware and/or Sterling Jewelers in Washington between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 26, 2025, where the job posting either failed to disclose pay or benefits information or listed a wage scale or salary range below Washington’s applicable annual minimum wage.

Potential Award

Up to $2,500

Proof of Purchase

N/A

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

09/28/2026

Case Name

Lynch v. Zale Delaware Inc., Case No. 24-2-24820-0 SEA, in the King County Superior Court in the State of Washington

Final Hearing

10/23/2026

Settlement Website
Claims Administrator

Lynch v. Zale Delaware Inc.
c/o Simpluris
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799
[email protected]
833-421-7315

Class Counsel

Timothy W. Emery
Patrick B. Reddy
Paul Cipriani
Hannah Hamley
EMERY REDDY P.C.

Defense Counsel

Adam J. Rocco
VORYS, SATER, SEYMOUR AND PEASE LLP

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.