Papa John’s Workers Lawsuit, $165+ Payments Available—Claims Due by March 16, 2026
Papa John’s Settlement Paying Workers Now—File Your Claim
Papa John’s agreed to pay $5 million to 520,000 current and former workers who were blocked from getting hired at other Papa John’s locations between December 18, 2014 and December 31, 2021. If you earned at least $200 working at any Papa John’s restaurant during those years, you can file a claim by March 16, 2026.
Average payout is $165 per person if 20% of workers file claims. Your payment depends on how much you earned compared to other class members—the more you made during the class period, the larger your share.
File your claim now at PapaJohnsEmployeeSettlement.com. You need your unique Class Member ID and PIN from the notice you received by mail or email.
How Much Money You’ll Get
Your payment is based on total earnings during December 18, 2014 through December 31, 2021 compared to all other class members who file claims.
Payment Breakdown:
- Average payout: $165 per person (based on 20% claim rate)
- Total settlement fund: $5,000,000
- Eligible workers: Approximately 520,000 people
- If more people file, individual payments decrease
- If fewer people file, individual payments increase
If You Signed Arbitration Agreement: Workers who signed arbitration agreements get 75% less than others. This discount was negotiated between lawyers for both sides.
Payment Options: Choose check or electronic payment when filing your claim.
Who Qualifies for Papa John’s Settlement
You’re eligible if:
- You worked at any Papa John’s restaurant in the United States
- Between December 18, 2014 and December 31, 2021
- You earned at least $200 total during that period
- Includes company-owned and franchise locations
All positions qualify:
- Delivery drivers
- Store managers
- Assistant managers
- Shift leaders
- Pizza makers
- Customer service workers
- Any other Papa John’s restaurant employee
Both current and former employees can claim.
You don’t need to prove Papa John’s no-poach policy specifically hurt you—just that you worked there during the class period and earned $200+.
How to File Your Papa John’s Settlement Claim
Step 1: Find Your Class Member ID and PIN Check the notice you got by mail or email. It contains your unique ID and PIN needed to file online.
Step 2: Go to Settlement Website Visit PapaJohnsEmployeeSettlement.com and click “File a Claim”
Step 3: Enter Your Information
- Class Member ID from your notice
- PIN from your notice
- Personal contact information
- Total amount you earned at Papa John’s from December 18, 2014 to December 31, 2021
Step 4: Choose Payment Method Select check or electronic payment
Step 5: Submit Before Deadline Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by March 16, 2026
If You Lost Your Notice: Call the settlement administrator or check the website for help retrieving your ID and PIN.
Mail Option: Download claim form PDF from settlement website, fill it out, and mail to: Papa John’s Employee Settlement P.O. Box 173013 Milwaukee, WI 53217
What the Papa John’s Lawsuit Was About
Papa John’s put “no-poach” clauses in franchise agreements that stopped franchise owners from hiring workers from other Papa John’s locations. The policy blocked employees from:
Moving Between Stores: You couldn’t get hired at another Papa John’s franchise even if it paid more or had better hours.
Getting Recruited: Other Papa John’s restaurants couldn’t reach out to offer you a job.
Advancing Your Career: You were stuck at your current location with no ability to explore opportunities at nearby Papa John’s stores.
Why This Was Illegal: The lawsuit claimed Papa John’s violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by eliminating competition for workers. When restaurants can’t compete for employees, wages stay low and workers lose leverage to negotiate better pay.
The Harm: Workers said the no-poach policy suppressed their wages and limited job mobility. If Papa John’s restaurants had to compete for employees, they would’ve offered better pay and working conditions.
Papa John’s Response: Papa John’s denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the $5 million settlement to avoid continued litigation costs and uncertainty.
Case Details: In re Papa John’s Employee Antitrust Litigation
Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
Case Number: Case No. 3:18-cv-00825-BJB-RSE
Judge: U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton
Filed: 2018
Preliminary Approval: August 7, 2025
Final Approval Hearing: May 5, 2026 (formerly scheduled for January 7, 2026)
Settlement Amount: $5,000,000
Attorney Fees: Up to $1,250,000 (25% of settlement fund)
Class Period: December 18, 2014 through December 31, 2021
Lead Plaintiff: Former Papa John’s manager and other employees
Legal Claim: Violation of Sherman Antitrust Act through unlawful no-poach agreements
What Papa John’s Must Do Besides Pay Money
The settlement requires Papa John’s to change business practices:
Antitrust Compliance Training: All domestic vice presidents and executives must complete antitrust compliance training to understand why no-poach agreements are illegal.
Notice to Franchisees: Papa John’s must notify all franchisees that it won’t enforce any existing no-poach provisions. Franchise owners can now hire workers from other Papa John’s restaurants without penalty.
No Future No-Poach Clauses: For the next five years, Papa John’s can’t include no-poach provisions in any new franchise agreements.
Commitment Letter: Papa John’s must send a letter to franchisees explaining that the company is committed to not enforcing restrictions on hiring employees from other Papa John’s locations.
These changes aim to restore competition for workers across Papa John’s locations and allow employees to freely pursue better opportunities.
Timeline: From Lawsuit to Payment
2014-2021: Papa John’s franchise agreements contained no-poach clauses blocking employees from moving between stores
2018: Class action lawsuit filed in Kentucky federal court claiming antitrust violations
July 2022: Parties announced $5 million settlement agreement
September 2023: Judge initially declined preliminary approval, requesting more information about class certification
November 2023: Plaintiffs resubmitted settlement with additional evidence addressing court’s concerns
October 2025: Court found preliminary approval was appropriate after reviewing supplemental filings
August 7, 2025: Judge Beaton granted preliminary approval, calling the settlement “fair and reasonable”
August-December 2025: Settlement notices mailed and emailed to approximately 520,000 class members
March 16, 2026: Claim filing deadline
May 5, 2026: Final approval hearing scheduled
After Final Approval: Payments distributed to class members (timeline depends on appeals)
Important Deadlines You Can’t Miss
March 16, 2026 – CLAIM DEADLINE All claim forms must be submitted online or postmarked by this date. Miss this deadline and you get nothing.
May 5, 2026 – Final Approval Hearing Court decides whether to grant final approval to the settlement. Class members can attend but don’t have to.
After Final Approval: Payments sent to approved claimants only after final approval is granted and any appeals are resolved. This could take several months beyond May 2026.
Objection Deadline (Passed): If you wanted to object to the settlement terms, that deadline already passed.
Opt-Out Deadline (Passed): If you wanted to exclude yourself from the settlement to pursue your own lawsuit, that deadline already passed.
What Happens If You Don’t File a Claim
You Get Nothing: If you don’t file a claim by March 16, 2026, you won’t receive any money from the $5 million settlement—even if you’re eligible.
You Give Up Your Right to Sue: Even if you don’t file a claim, you’re still bound by the settlement. You can’t later sue Papa John’s about the no-poach policy on your own.
Money Goes to Other Claimants: Your share gets redistributed among people who did file claims. The fewer people who claim, the larger each payment becomes for those who filed.
It’s Free to File: There’s no cost to submit a claim. You’re not paying lawyer fees out of your settlement—those come from the settlement fund separately.
Other Papa John’s Lawsuits You Should Know About
Spam Email Lawsuit (Active): Filed December 2025 in Washington state court. Claims Papa John’s sends emails with false urgency (“Last chance!” then extends offers). Seeks damages under Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act.
Unsolicited Text Messages (Active): Filed 2023 in Georgia federal court. Alleges Papa John’s sends marketing texts to people who opted out. Claims $500-$1,500 per violation under Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Website Accessibility (Active): Filed 2025 in New York federal court. Claims Papa John’s website isn’t accessible to blind and visually impaired customers, violating Americans with Disabilities Act.
Delivery Driver Reimbursement (Active): Filed 2022 in Kentucky federal court. Claims Papa John’s fails to properly reimburse delivery drivers for vehicle expenses, dropping wages below minimum wage.
Biometric Privacy (Active): Filed 2022 in Illinois state court. Alleges Papa John’s PapaCall AI ordering system collects customer voiceprints without consent, violating Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
Session Replay Lawsuit (Dismissed): Papa John’s won Ninth Circuit appeal in June 2025. Court ruled tracking website interactions doesn’t violate California privacy law.
Legal Teams Behind the Settlement
Class Counsel (Plaintiffs):
- Scott + Scott Attorneys at Law LLP
- McCune Wright Arevalo LLP
- Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP
- Lowey Dannenberg PC (lead attorneys: Christian Levis, Noelle Forde)
- Radice Law Firm PC
- Moore Law Group PLLC
Defense Counsel (Papa John’s):
- Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, PA
Claims Administrator: A.B. Data, Ltd.
Attorney Fees: Class counsel is requesting up to 25% of the settlement fund ($1,250,000) plus litigation expenses. The court will decide whether to approve this at the final hearing.
Why No-Poach Cases Are Hard to Win
The Papa John’s settlement represents a significant victory for workers. No-poach cases historically faced tough legal hurdles:
DOJ Track Record: The Department of Justice focused heavily on no-poach cases starting in 2016, but it took four years to secure the first wage-fixing criminal indictment.
Proving Harm: Workers must show that no-poach agreements actually suppressed their wages. This requires complex economic analysis of payroll data.
Class Certification Challenges: Papa John’s case initially hit roadblocks when the judge questioned whether all workers were similarly affected. The settlement only moved forward after plaintiffs provided additional evidence.
Arbitration Obstacles: Some workers had signed arbitration agreements, complicating class action status. The settlement addresses this by offering reduced payments to those workers.
Despite these challenges, this settlement provides real compensation to hundreds of thousands of workers harmed by anticompetitive practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I’m eligible for the Papa John’s settlement?
If you worked at any Papa John’s restaurant in the U.S. between December 18, 2014 and December 31, 2021 and earned at least $200 total during that time, you’re eligible. This includes all positions at company-owned and franchise locations.
When will I receive my Papa John’s settlement payment?
Payments go out only after the court grants final approval at the May 5, 2026 hearing and any appeals are resolved. Expect several months after final approval before checks or electronic payments are sent.
Can I still file a claim if I didn’t receive a notice?
Yes. Go to PapaJohnsEmployeeSettlement.com and contact the settlement administrator for help. You may need to provide proof you worked at Papa John’s during the class period.
What if I worked at multiple Papa John’s locations?
You still file just one claim. Your payment is based on your total earnings across all Papa John’s restaurants during December 18, 2014 through December 31, 2021.
Do I have to pay taxes on my settlement payment?
Consult a tax professional. Settlement payments may be taxable depending on what they compensate for. The settlement administrator will provide tax information with your payment.
What if I signed an arbitration agreement?
You can still file a claim, but your payment will be reduced by 75% compared to workers who didn’t sign arbitration agreements. This discount was negotiated as part of the settlement terms.
Will Papa John’s know if I file a claim?
The claims administrator handles all claim processing confidentially. Papa John’s won’t receive a list of individual claimants’ names, though they’ll know aggregate claim statistics.
Can I opt out of the settlement and sue Papa John’s on my own?
No. The opt-out deadline has passed. If you’re part of the class (worked there during class period), you’re bound by the settlement whether or not you file a claim.
What happens if I moved and Papa John’s can’t find me?
Update your address at PapaJohnsEmployeeSettlement.com or contact the settlement administrator. If they can’t reach you, your payment may be held until you provide current contact information.
How much will I actually get after attorney fees are deducted?
Your payment amount already accounts for attorney fees. The $5 million total includes attorney fees (up to $1.25 million), which come off the top. Your share is calculated from the remaining funds distributed to claimants.
Settlement Resources:
Official Settlement Website: PapaJohnsEmployeeSettlement.com
Settlement Administrator: Papa John’s Employee Settlement P.O. Box 173013 Milwaukee, WI 53217
Court Information: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky Case No.: 3:18-cv-00825-BJB-RSE Judge: Benjamin Beaton
Important Dates:
- Claim Deadline: March 16, 2026
- Final Approval Hearing: May 5, 2026
File your claim by March 16, 2026 or you’ll receive nothing from this settlement. Visit PapaJohnsEmployeeSettlement.com to submit your claim online.
Last Updated: December 13, 2025
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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