Groundlight $460,000 Job Posting Class Action Settlement, Who Qualifies and When Will Applicants Get Paid?

Groundlight, Inc. has agreed to a $460,000 class action settlement over claims that its Washington job postings did not include the wage or salary range and benefits information that state law requires. Eligible applicants may receive an equal share of the fund, which works out to roughly $207 per person using the settlement’s maximum requested deductions.

No claim form is required. Groundlight’s own application records identify the class, and class members who do not opt out are eligible for payment automatically if the court grants final approval.

December 11, 2026 is not a claim deadline. It is the deadline to update your mailing address or select electronic payment, to request exclusion, or to object.

The case is John Milito v. Groundlight, Inc., No. 25-2-08411-6 SEA, in King County Superior Court, Washington, before Judge Jason Holloway. The court granted preliminary approval on August 28, 2026, and the final approval hearing is January 29, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. Groundlight denies the allegations, and the court has not found that it violated the law.

Quick Facts: Groundlight $460,000 Settlement

Detail	Information
Case	John Milito v. Groundlight, Inc., No. 25-2-08411-6 SEA
Court and judge	King County Superior Court (Washington), Judge Jason Holloway
Settlement fund	$460,000
Who pays	Groundlight’s insurer, National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford (reported)
Law at issue	Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, RCW 49.58.110
Class period	January 1, 2023 to August 28, 2026
Class members	About 1,313 applicants (reported)
Estimated payment	About $207 each (an estimate, not guaranteed)
Claim form	Not required
Payment method	Mailed check or electronic payment
Deadline to update address or payment choice	December 11, 2026
Opt-out and objection deadline	December 11, 2026
Preliminary approval	August 28, 2026
Final approval hearing	January 29, 2027, 10:00 a.m., Room E-209, or by Zoom
Settlement administrator	Simpluris, Inc., (833) 296-0848, [email protected]
Official website	epoasettlementgli.com

What Is the Groundlight Class Action About?

The lawsuit, filed March 14, 2025, alleges that Groundlight posted job openings for Washington positions without disclosing the wage scale or salary range, and in some cases without a general description of benefits and other compensation, as RCW 49.58.110 requires. Plaintiff John Milito sued on behalf of himself and other applicants. Groundlight denies that it violated the law or can be held liable. The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing, and the court has not ruled on the merits.

Who Is Eligible for the Groundlight Settlement?

You are in the settlement class if you applied for at least one Groundlight job opening in Washington between January 1, 2023 and August 28, 2026, in response to a posting that the plaintiff says did not properly disclose the pay and benefits information. The settlement administrator says Groundlight’s records identify class members.

You do not have to have been hired. Applicants who were rejected, withdrew, were interviewed but not hired, or no longer have any connection to Groundlight can still be class members. The question is whether you applied for a qualifying Washington opening during the class period.

The class is defined by where the job opening was, not where you live now. If your position was remote, listed multiple locations or had a work location outside Washington, ask the administrator whether it is covered.

Notices were sent by mail and email. If you think you applied for a qualifying position but received nothing, contact the administrator with your full name and mailing address.

How Much Will Each Groundlight Applicant Receive?

All class members who do not exclude themselves receive an equal share of the Class Fund. Payments do not vary by hours worked, offers received or how many positions you applied for.

Item	Amount
Total settlement fund	$460,000
Attorneys’ fees requested	$153,333.18
Attorneys’ costs and expenses	Up to $5,000
Service award requested for John Milito	$10,000
Settlement administration	Up to $20,000
Remaining Class Fund if every maximum is approved	About $271,667
Estimated payment per class member (about 1,313)	About $207

The $207 figure is arithmetic based on the maximum requested deductions and the reported class size. It is not an official number. The court decides the fee, costs and service award and may approve less, and the final amount depends on the number of class members who participate after any opt-outs. The fee request is one-third of the fund.

Are Groundlight settlement payments taxable?

The administrator says payments will be characterized as non-wage damages reported on Form 1099. They are not wages or back pay. Ask a tax professional how to report your payment.

Related article: Hertz $10 Million Securities Settlement, Who Qualifies, How Much Investors Could Get and the January 8, 2027 Claim Deadline

Is There a Claim Form for the Groundlight Settlement?

No. You do not need to submit a claim, upload documents, prove you were hired or calculate damages. If you do nothing and the court grants final approval, you remain in the class, receive a payment, and are bound by the settlement, including the release described below.

What you should do is confirm that the administrator has your current mailing address. The FAQ warns that if the administrator does not have your current address you may not receive your payment.

What Does the December 11, 2026 Deadline Cover?

Action	Deadline	How
Update address or choose electronic payment	December 11, 2026	Payment selection portal using the Login ID and PIN on your notice, or the address form by mail or email
Request exclusion (opt out)	Postmarked by December 11, 2026	Signed letter by mail
Object	Filed with the court by December 11, 2026, with copies postmarked to counsel by the same date	Written objection

If you cannot find your Login ID or PIN, contact the administrator.

How to opt out

Send a signed, dated letter to John Milito v. Groundlight, Inc., c/o Simpluris, Inc., P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799. It must include your full name, your address, and a statement that you want to be excluded, for example: “I request to be excluded from the class action settlement in John Milito v. Groundlight, Inc., Case No. 25-2-08411-6 SEA.” You cannot opt out by phone or email, and each person must send their own request, with no group requests.

If you opt out, you receive no payment, you are not bound by the judgment, and you do not release your claims. Anyone thinking about this should read the Settlement Agreement and talk to an attorney, because claims under RCW 49.58.110 have a time limit (see below).

How to object

You can object only if you stay in the class. Mail your written objection and any supporting papers to King County Superior Court, 516 Third Avenue, Room C-203, Seattle, WA 98104 by December 11, 2026, or have your attorney e-file it. It must include:

1. Your full name, address, telephone number and email address;
2. The case name and number;
3. The reasons for your objection;
4. The name and address of your attorney, if any;
5. A statement whether you or your attorney will appear at the hearing;
6. A list of other class action settlements you objected to in the last three years, by case name, court and docket number;
7. A list of those your attorney objected to in the last three years; and
8. Your or your attorney’s signature and the date.

You must also mail copies postmarked by December 11 to Class Counsel (Emery Reddy, PC, 600 Stewart Street, Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 98101) and to Groundlight’s counsel (Littler Mendelson, P.C., 600 University Street, Suite 3200, Seattle, WA 98101).

What happens if you do nothing?

You remain in the class, receive a payment by mail if the settlement is approved, and give up the right to sue Groundlight over the released claims.

Can Groundlight retaliate against applicants who take part?

No. The FAQ states that Groundlight will not retaliate against any class member for participating, not participating or objecting, and that the decision will not affect your employment or how Groundlight treats you as an applicant.

What Claims Do Class Members Give Up?

If the court approves the settlement and you do not opt out, the case is dismissed with prejudice and you release Groundlight and related parties from claims during the class period tied to the alleged violation of RCW 49.58.110, including related claims for actual, statutory and exemplary damages, interest, fees and costs, and any claim that was or could have been brought in the case. The FAQ says participating does not waive claims outside the release. The full release is in Paragraph 19 of the Settlement Agreement, which controls over any summary.

What Does Washington’s Pay Transparency Law Require?

The case rests on RCW 49.58.110, part of the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (chapter 49.58 RCW). The law took effect January 1, 2023, which is the start of the class period.

Provision	What it says
RCW 49.58.110(1)(a)	Each job posting must include the wage scale or salary range (or the fixed wage if only one amount is offered) and a general description of all benefits and other compensation to be offered to the hired applicant. A posting is any solicitation to recruit applicants for a specific position, whether done directly or through a third party, in electronic or printed form, that includes desired qualifications.
RCW 49.58.110(1)(b)	For postings from July 27, 2025 through July 27, 2027, an employer must be given a chance to correct a violation before an applicant can seek remedies. If the employer corrects the posting within five business days of written notice (and demands correction from any third-party posting site), no penalties or damages may be assessed. This was added by 2025 c 383 (Senate Bill 5408).
RCW 49.58.110(3)	The section applies only to employers with 15 or more employees.
RCW 49.58.110(4)	The Department of Labor and Industries investigates complaints, tries conciliation, and may order statutory damages of $100 to $5,000 per violation, a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first violation or $1,000 for a repeat, and its costs.
RCW 49.58.110(5)	A job applicant may sue. A prevailing applicant is entitled to statutory damages of $100 to $5,000 per violation plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. The suit must be brought within three years of the violation. An applicant can recover through the department or the court, but not both.
RCW 49.58.110(6)	The administrative remedies and the private right of action are the exclusive remedies for violations of this section.

The 2025 correction right matters because this class period (through August 28, 2026) covers postings both before and after July 27, 2025. This settlement resolves the disputed claims without any court finding about the legal merits of an individual posting.

Court rules that govern the settlement

Because the case is in Washington state court, Superior Court Civil Rule 23 applies. It requires notice and a chance to opt out for damages classes and court approval of a class settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate. Washington courts also review requested attorneys’ fees. The Washington Supreme Court has approved awarding class counsel a percentage of the fund, with 25% as a benchmark that can be adjusted (Bowles v. Department of Retirement Systems, 121 Wn.2d 52 (1993)). The one-third fee request is above that benchmark, so the judge will weigh it, and the FAQ says final approval does not depend on the fee amount awarded.

When Will Groundlight Settlement Payments Be Sent?

No payment date has been set. The final approval hearing is January 29, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Holloway at the King County Courthouse, 516 Third Avenue, Room E-209, Seattle. You can also attend by Zoom. The date and time can change by court order, so check the settlement website.

If the court approves, payments go out after all appeals and other reviews are complete. Settlement payments expire and become void 180 days after they are issued, so deposit a check promptly. You do not have to attend the hearing. You can ask for permission to speak if you stay in the class.

Who Represents the Class?

The court appointed Timothy Emery, Patrick B. Reddy and Paul Cipriani of Emery Reddy, PC, 600 Stewart Street, Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 98101, (206) 442-9106, as Class Counsel. You do not need your own lawyer and will not be charged by Class Counsel. Groundlight is represented by Littler Mendelson, P.C.

How Does This Compare With Other Washington Pay Transparency Settlements?

Several Washington employers have settled similar claims, each with its own class period, amount and process. See Wiz $5M Washington Job Applicant Settlement, No Claim Form and Assa Abloy $395,000 Settlement How To Claim By Dec. 4. Do not assume the terms of one apply to another.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Groundlight Settlement

Is the Groundlight $460,000 settlement real?

Yes. It is a court-authorized proposed settlement in John Milito v. Groundlight, Inc., No. 25-2-08411-6 SEA, with an official website run by Simpluris.

How much will I get?

About $207, if the maximum requested deductions are approved and about 1,313 people participate. It is an estimate, and the final amount depends on the court and on participation.

Is there a claim form?

No. Groundlight’s records identify class members.

Who qualifies?

People who applied for a Groundlight job opening in Washington between January 1, 2023 and August 28, 2026, in response to a posting that allegedly lacked the required pay and benefits information.

Do I have to have been hired?

No. Rejected and non-hired applicants can qualify.

What is the December 11, 2026 deadline for?

Updating your address or choosing electronic payment, opting out, or objecting. It is not a claim deadline.

How do I choose electronic payment?

Use the payment selection portal with the Login ID and PIN from your notice by December 11, 2026.

What if I lost my notice or did not receive one?

Contact Simpluris at (833) 296-0848 or [email protected].

What happens if I do nothing?

You stay in the class, get a payment by mail if the court approves the settlement, and give up the released claims.

Can I sue Groundlight later if I stay in?

Not over the claims released by the settlement. The release is described in Paragraph 19 of the Settlement Agreement.

Can I opt out and still get paid?

No. Excluded applicants receive no payment but keep their own claims, subject to the deadline in RCW 49.58.110(5)(b).

Will Groundlight retaliate against me?

The FAQ says no. Groundlight will not retaliate for participating, opting out or objecting.

When is the final approval hearing?

January 29, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. in King County Superior Court, or by Zoom. The date may change.

Did Groundlight admit it broke the law?

No. Groundlight denies the allegations, and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing.

Are payments taxable?

The administrator says they are reported as non-wage damages on Form 1099. Ask a tax professional about your situation.

How long do I have to cash my check?

Payments expire and become void 180 days after they are issued.

The Bottom Line on the Groundlight Settlement

Groundlight’s $460,000 settlement could pay eligible Washington job applicants an equal share of the fund, an estimated $207 each, without filing a claim. Your main job is to make sure Simpluris has your correct address or your electronic payment choice by December 11, 2026, the same date as the opt-out and objection deadlines. The court decides on final approval on January 29, 2027, and payments follow only after approval and any appeals.

Official Settlement Documents and Legal Authorities

Settlement website

1. Official Groundlight settlement website
2. Official FAQs
3. Important documents
4. Contact information
5. Address update and payment selection portal
6. Settlement notice (PDF)
7. Settlement agreement (PDF)

Washington law and court rules

8. RCW 49.58.110, Disclosure of wage or salary range by employer
9. Chapter 49.58 RCW, Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act
10. 2025 c 383 (Substitute Senate Bill 5408); 2022 c 242
11. Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 23
12. Bowles v. Department of Retirement Systems, 121 Wn.2d 52 (1993)

Case

13. John Milito v. Groundlight, Inc., No. 25-2-08411-6 SEA, King County Superior Court; order granting preliminary approval, August 28, 2026

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official settlement FAQ and the text of RCW 49.58.110, as of November 5, 2026. Last Updated: November 5, 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. AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent legal information website, not a law firm. The settlement remains subject to final court approval. The allegations against Groundlight have not been established as findings of liability. Eligibility and payment depend on the final approved agreement and the administrator’s records.