Big Al’s Noncompetition Settlement, Were You Affected? — Lazova-Fast v. Big Al’s, Inc., No. 25-2-01504-06

There’s $450,000 set aside for Big Al’s workers, and unlike most settlements, you don’t have to file anything to get your share. Big Al’s, the Vancouver, Washington bowling-and-entertainment chain, agreed to pay after employees said it illegally restricted low-wage staff from taking second jobs. You just need to make sure the Settlement Administrator has your current address.

Big Al’s Noncompetition Settlement — Key Facts

Settlement Amount	$450,000 total (Common Fund)
Claim Deadline	Not applicable. No claim form is required; payment is automatic for anyone who doesn’t opt out
Who Qualifies	Employees who worked for Big Al’s, Inc. between January 1, 2020, and May 22, 2026, and earned less than twice the applicable state minimum hourly wage
Estimated Payout	UNVERIFIED — an equal pro-rata share of the fund after fees and costs; exact per-person amount depends on total class size, which isn’t publicly disclosed
Proof Required (Yes/No)	No. Payment is automatic based on Big Al’s own payroll records
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved May 22, 2026; final approval pending
Court & Case Number	Clark County Superior Court, Washington — No. 25-2-01504-06
Law Alleged	Washington Noncompetition Covenants Act, chapter 49.62 RCW, specifically the anti-moonlighting provision at RCW 49.62.070
Administrator	Simpluris, Inc.
Official Claim Site	No claim form exists. Confirm your address at baincsettlement.com or by calling (888) 369-3780
Last Updated	August 3, 2026

Who Is Big Al’s and Why Are They Being Sued Over Second Jobs?

Big Al’s is a family-owned bowling, arcade, and sports bar chain based in Vancouver, Washington, running venues staffed largely by hourly bartenders, arcade attendants, and lane workers, exactly the low-wage jobs Washington’s anti-moonlighting law was written to protect. Former employee Adele Lazova-Fast says Big Al’s bound these workers to an “outside employment policy” that restricted their ability to take a second job. Washington law says employers generally can’t do that to anyone earning less than twice the state minimum wage.

What Did Big Al’s Do, and When Did the Law Turn Against It?

RCW 49.62.070 blocks employers from stopping a low-wage worker from picking up a second job, freelancing, or going self-employed, unless the restriction fits narrowly within an employee’s existing duty of loyalty. Big Al’s allegedly applied its outside employment policy to workers covered by exactly that protection.

The timing here matters. On January 23, 2025, the Washington Supreme Court ruled in David v. Freedom Vans LLC that employers can’t broadly bar low-wage staff from moonlighting, only from narrowly-defined disloyal conduct, and that any restriction has to be reasonable case by case. That ruling reshaped how these cases get evaluated, and it landed just months before this lawsuit moved to settlement. Our coverage of the Home Depot class action covers a nearly identical Washington non-compete claim playing out at a much larger company.

Washington didn’t just tighten a rule here. It rewrote the odds for any employer still enforcing a blanket outside-employment ban.

Are You Part of the Big Al’s Noncompetition Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Anyone who worked for Big Al’s, Inc. between January 1, 2020 and May 22, 2026
• Employees who earned less than twice the applicable state minimum hourly wage during that time
• Both current and former Big Al’s employees, according to Big Al’s own records
• Employees who earned twice the state minimum wage or more throughout their employment do not qualify under this settlement

Big Al’s Employees Outside Washington — Are You Still Covered?

This is genuinely unclear from the public settlement documents. The claim is built on Washington’s noncompete statute and filed in Clark County Superior Court, which points toward Washington-based work, but the settlement website’s own class definition doesn’t explicitly limit itself by location. If you worked at a Big Al’s location in Oregon, Idaho, or California, call the Settlement Administrator at (888) 369-3780 to confirm your status rather than assume either way.

Not sure if you qualify for the Big Al’s noncompetition settlement? A free consultation with an employment attorney can help you sort that out, especially if you worked at more than one Big Al’s location.

Related article: Trajector VA Disability Fees Lawsuit, Were You Affected? — Quijada v. Trajector, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-03792

How Much Can Big Al’s Settlement Class Members Get?

Every Settlement Class Member who doesn’t opt out gets an equal share of what’s left in the $450,000 Common Fund after deductions. Class Counsel will ask the court for $149,999 in attorneys’ fees, $5,000 in costs, and a $20,000 service award for Lazova-Fast, a combined $174,999 off the top.

That’s nearly 39 cents of every settlement dollar going to fees and the named plaintiff’s award before anyone else sees a check. The court still has to approve those amounts, and it can award less.

Payments are treated as non-wage damages and reported on a 1099, not as wages.

How to Make Sure You Get Paid From the Big Al’s Settlement

1. There is no claim form to fill out. Your eligibility comes straight from Big Al’s payroll records.
2. Confirm your current mailing address with Simpluris, the Settlement Administrator, at (888) 369-3780 or [email protected].
3. If you’ve moved recently, update your address immediately; a settlement check can’t reach you at an old one.
4. Watch for a mailed payment after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.
5. Cash your check within 180 days of the date it’s issued. Payments void after that.
6. If you don’t get a payment and believe you should have, contact the Administrator directly rather than assume you were excluded.

No forms, no receipts, no deadline to file. Just a working mailing address.

Should Big Al’s Class Members Opt Out or Object Before August 24, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Big Al’s Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means no settlement payment, but you keep the right to sue Big Al’s separately over the same claims. The deadline to opt out is August 24, 2026, and you must send a signed letter, not an email or phone call, to the Settlement Administrator.

How to Object to the Big Al’s Settlement

Staying in the class while disagreeing with its terms means filing a written objection with Clark County Superior Court, and mailing copies to Class Counsel and Big Al’s attorneys, by August 24, 2026.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before August 24, 2026 if you’re weighing either option.

Big Al’s Noncompetition Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Preliminary Approval	May 22, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	August 24, 2026
Objection Deadline	August 24, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	September 25, 2026, 9:00 A.M., Clark County Superior Court
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — after final approval and resolution of any appeals

Big Al’s Noncompetition Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 25-2-01504-06

Do I need a lawyer to get paid from the Big Al’s settlement?

 No. Emery Reddy, PC already represents the class as Court-appointed Class Counsel, at no cost to you.

Is the Big Al’s noncompetition settlement legitimate? 

Yes. It’s pending before Clark County Superior Court, Case No. 25-2-01504-06, and administered by Simpluris, a court-authorized settlement administrator.

When will Big Al’s settlement payments be sent?

 UNVERIFIED. Payments follow the September 25, 2026 final approval hearing and any appeals; no specific mailing date has been announced.

What if I never received a settlement notice?

 Contact the Settlement Administrator at (888) 369-3780 or [email protected] to check whether Big Al’s records show you as a class member.

Will my Big Al’s settlement payment go on a 1099? 

Yes. The FAQ confirms payments are characterized as non-wage damages and reported on a 1099, not as wages.

Do I have to do anything to receive my payment? 

Only confirm your mailing address is current. There is no claim form for this settlement.

What specific law does Big Al’s allegedly violate? 

The lawsuit alleges violations of RCW 49.62.070, the anti-moonlighting provision of Washington’s Noncompetition Covenants Act.

Sources Used in This Big Al’s Article

• Official Settlement Website — baincsettlement.com: https://baincsettlement.com/
• Official Settlement FAQ — baincsettlement.com: https://baincsettlement.com/faq/
• Notice of Class Action Settlement — Simpluris: https://cw.simpluris.com/docs/public/downloads/BLO2/NOTICE
• Washington State Legislature — Chapter 49.62 RCW: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.62&full=true
• Washington Courts — David v. Freedom Vans LLC opinion: https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/848674.pdf

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the sources listed above as of August 3, 2026. Last Updated: August 3, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.