Classic Collision Washington Job Applicant $583,700 Settlement, Applied Between 2023–2026? A Check Is Coming

Classic Collision LLC agreed to pay $583,700 to settle a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to include salary ranges and benefits information in its Washington state job postings — a violation of the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). If you applied for a job at Classic Collision in Washington between January 1, 2023, and February 13, 2026, and the job posting did not disclose the wage scale or salary range, you may qualify for an automatic cash payment — no claim form required. The opt-out deadline is April 13, 2026.

Quick Facts

Current Status and What Happens Next

• Preliminarily approved — the court gave conditional approval and Simpluris is identifying all eligible class members using Classic Collision’s job application records.
• Opt-out deadline: April 13, 2026 — if you want to preserve your right to sue Classic Collision independently under the EPOA, you must mail a written opt-out request before this date.
• Final approval hearing: June 26, 2026 — if the court grants final approval, Simpluris will mail checks to all eligible class members approximately 44 days after the settlement becomes final and any appeals are resolved.

What Is the Classic Collision Lawsuit About?

Plaintiff Jeffrey Hill filed the class action lawsuit Jeffrey Hill v. Classic Collision LLC, Case No. 25-2-21563-6 SEA, in King County Superior Court alleging Classic Collision violated Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) — a state law effective January 1, 2023, that requires employers with 15 or more employees to include the wage scale or salary range and a general description of benefits and other compensation in all job postings for Washington positions.

Classic Collision is a national auto body repair and collision center chain operating multiple locations across Washington state. The lawsuit alleged that between January 2023 and February 2026, Classic Collision posted job openings for Washington positions without including the salary range or wage scale information the EPOA requires — leaving job applicants unable to make informed decisions about whether to apply or negotiate salary. The EPOA exists specifically to address pay transparency and reduce wage inequality by ensuring workers know what they can expect to earn before investing time in an application process.

Classic Collision denies any wrongdoing but agreed to the $583,700 settlement to avoid the risks and costs of continued litigation.

Who Is Eligible to Receive a Payment?

The settlement administrator identifies all eligible class members automatically using Classic Collision’s job application records. You do not need to file a claim form or prove your eligibility.

• You may qualify if you applied for at least one job opening in Washington with Classic Collision LLC at any time between January 1, 2023, and February 13, 2026.
• You may qualify if the job posting you responded to did not properly disclose the wage scale or salary range for the position or a general description of benefits and other compensation.
• You may qualify whether Classic Collision hired you, rejected your application, or you withdrew — the outcome of your application does not affect eligibility.
• You do not qualify if you previously opted out of this class action during an earlier phase of the litigation.

If you received a settlement notice from Simpluris, you are already identified as a class member. If you believe you should have received a notice but did not, contact Simpluris at 888-369-3780 or [email protected] immediately — well before the April 13, 2026 opt-out deadline.

How Much Will You Receive?

Every eligible class member receives an equal share of the net settlement fund — meaning the total remaining after attorneys’ fees, costs, service awards, and administration costs are deducted.

Settlement fund breakdown:

With approximately 449 class members, each eligible applicant stands to receive approximately $766 — though the exact amount may vary slightly depending on the final number of participating class members and court-approved deductions.

Important tax note: The settlement administrator will report your payment as nonwage damages on IRS Form 1099. Because this payment is not classified as wages, no payroll taxes are withheld — but you may owe income tax on the amount when you file your return. Consult a qualified tax professional if you have questions about how to handle your 1099 payment.

Uncashed checks after 180 days will be transferred to the Washington State Unclaimed Property program. After all payments are made, any remaining residual funds will be donated to the Legal Foundation of Washington.

How Will You Receive Your Payment?

Because no claim form is required, here is exactly what happens automatically:

Step 1 — Simpluris uses Classic Collision’s job application records to identify all eligible class members and calculate their equal share of the net settlement fund.

Step 2 — Simpluris mails a check to your last known mailing address on file. If your address has changed since you applied at Classic Collision, update it immediately by contacting Simpluris at 888-369-3780 or [email protected], or by completing and returning the address update form included with your settlement notice.

Step 3 — If Simpluris does not have a valid mailing address for you, the administrator will attempt to send your payment via an electronic payment service such as PayPal or Venmo. You may also request electronic payment directly.

Step 4 — If you want to opt out and preserve your right to sue Classic Collision independently under the EPOA, mail a written and signed opt-out request to: Hill v. Classic Collision LLC, c/o Simpluris Inc., P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799 — postmarked by April 13, 2026.

Step 5 — Once your check arrives, cash it within 180 days. Checks not cashed within 180 days will transfer to Washington’s Unclaimed Property program and will not be reissued.

No action needed to receive payment — but update your address with Simpluris immediately if you have moved since applying at Classic Collision.

Important Deadlines and Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to file a claim to receive my payment? 

No. Simpluris automatically identifies all eligible class members using Classic Collision’s application records and mails checks to your address on file. You only need to act if you want to opt out, object, or update your mailing address. If your address has changed since you applied at Classic Collision, contact Simpluris at 888-369-3780 or [email protected] right away.

Is this Classic Collision settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The settlement, Jeffrey Hill v. Classic Collision LLC, Case No. 25-2-21563-6 SEA, is a court-supervised class action pending in King County Superior Court in Washington state. It is preliminarily approved. The official settlement website is epoasettlement-feb-13-2026.com, administered by Simpluris, Inc. Contact the administrator at 888-369-3780 or [email protected] to verify any communication.

When will I receive my payment? 

The final approval hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2026. If the court grants final approval and no appeals follow, Simpluris will send payments approximately 44 days after that process concludes. Cash your check promptly once it arrives — it becomes void after 180 days.

What if I miss the April 13, 2026 opt-out deadline? 

If you do not opt out by April 13, 2026, you automatically remain in the settlement and will receive your automatic payment. You also give up your right to sue Classic Collision separately for these EPOA violations. Most Washington job applicants will benefit from staying in the settlement and receiving their automatic payment.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Yes. Your payment will be reported as nonwage damages on IRS Form 1099. Unlike wage payments, no taxes are withheld automatically — which means you may owe income taxes on the payment amount when you file your return. Consult a qualified tax professional to understand your specific tax obligation.

What is the Washington EPOA and why does it require salary ranges in job postings?

 The Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) — effective January 1, 2023 — requires employers with 15 or more employees to include the wage scale or salary range and a general description of benefits in all Washington job postings. The law exists to increase pay transparency, help workers make informed decisions before applying, and reduce wage inequality. Employers who violate the EPOA face statutory damages ranging from $100 to $5,000 per violation, plus attorneys’ fees.

Does it matter whether Classic Collision hired me or not?

 No. Your eligibility depends only on whether you applied for a qualifying Washington job posting between January 1, 2023, and February 13, 2026, and whether that posting failed to include the required wage or salary information. It does not matter whether Classic Collision offered you a job, rejected your application, or whether you withdrew your application.

What happens to uncashed checks and leftover settlement funds?

 Checks not cashed within 180 days of issue will be transferred to the Washington State Unclaimed Property program — where you can still claim them later through the state. Any residual funds after all payments are made will be donated to the Legal Foundation of Washington, a nonprofit organization that provides civil legal aid to low-income Washington residents.

Sources and References

1. Official Settlement Website — epoasettlement-feb-13-2026.com
2. Settlement FAQ — epoasettlement-feb-13-2026.com/faq
3. Settlement Documents — epoasettlement-feb-13-2026.com/documents
4. Washington State Legislature — Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (RCW 49.58.110)

Washington residents who received unsolicited text messages from companies may also be eligible for cash from other active Washington consumer protection settlements — the Cash App $12.5 million Washington text message settlement paid $394.36 to approved claimants in February 2026 as an example of how Washington’s strong consumer laws have recently been enforced. If you also worked as an hourly employee at a Washington-area company and were not paid properly, the Watermark Retirement Communities $2.5 million California wage settlement for hourly workers shows how similar automatic-payment wage cases work for frontline workers.

Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.

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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