Pizl v. Northwest Premier Investments, Inc.

What is the lawsuit about?

A job applicant filed a lawsuit against Northwest Premier alleging that it failed to post the wage scale or salary range on its job postings after January 1, 2023.

Northwest Premier denies any fault, wrongdoing, or liability. Northwest Premier agreed to this Settlement to avoid the risk and expense of further litigation.

The Lewis County Superior Court is overseeing this class action. The lawsuit is known as Pizl v. Northwest Premier Investments, Inc., Case No. 23-2-01101-21 (the “Case”).

How do I know if I am in the Settlement Class?

As part of the Settlement of the Case, the Lewis County Superior Court decided that everyone who fits the following description is a Settlement Class Member:

• All Washington residents who applied for Crew Member jobs in Washington with Northwest Premier Investments, Inc. between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, that were posted on talentreef.com, jobappnetwork.com, papamurphys.com, papamurphyscareers.com, or nwpjobs.com, where the job posting did not disclose the wage scale or salary range or a description of benefits for the position.

To receive any money pursuant to the Settlement, you must submit a valid and timely Claim Form to the Settlement Administrator by the Notice Deadline.

What are the basic terms of the Settlement?

Subject to Court approval, the essential terms of the Settlement are as follows:

Defendant will pay a maximum total of $2,350,000 to a Common Fund, apportioned as follows:

• Class Fund: At least $1,598,500, which will be available for the payment of Settlement Awards to Settlement Class Members who submit timely and valid Claim Forms.
• Service and Full Release Award: $10,000 to Plaintiff Kimberly Pizl as a service award in recognition of her efforts in prosecuting the Case and in recognition that she is providing a full, general release of all known and unknown claims against Northwest Premier.
• Settlement Administration Expenses Award: $35,000 to the Settlement Administrator for the processing of the Settlement, including the expenses of providing settlement notice to Settlement Class Members, handling the settlement administration process, processing payments to Settlement Class Members, and handling tax reporting requirements.
• Attorneys’ Fees and Costs Award: $705,000 to Class Counsel for the attorneys’ fees award and up to $1,500 for actual litigation costs incurred in representing Plaintiff and the Settlement Class.

Monetary Relief: The amount available to the Settlement Class Members is intended to compensate for the violations alleged in the Case.

Distribution of Class Fund: Each Settlement Class Member who submits a valid and timely Claim Form will receive a settlement payment. The amount of your estimated settlement payment is an equal portion of the Class Fund allocated to all Settlement Class Members. The Settlement Agreement is not intended and shall not be interpreted or construed as creating residual funds. Funds that remain in the Class Fund after all payments required by this Agreement have been paid shall revert to Northwest Premier.

Release of Claims: Upon final approval by the Court, each Settlement Class Member will irrevocably release all of the Released Claims against Northwest Premier. The Released Claims include any and all claims, whether known or unknown, that were brought or that could have been brought based on any facts alleged in the Case relating to job postings, including any alleged violations of RCW 49.58.110.

This Release requires you to waive and precludes you from bringing any released claims for the period January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.

Dismissal of Action: Upon final approval, the Court will enter a judgment of dismissal of the Case with prejudice but shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the settlement agreement.