$4.75M Hermanson Company Pay Transparency Settlement, Did You Apply for a Job in Washington? Here Is How to Get Paid Before June 15

The Hermanson Company pay transparency settlement is an employment class action where approximately 8,500 Washington job applicants can receive an equal share of a $4,750,000 fund — with no claim form required. Job seeker Katherine Wright filed suit against Hermanson Company, LLP and three related entities in King County Superior Court, alleging their Washington job postings failed to disclose salary ranges as required by state law. The case has received preliminary court approval, and the Final Approval Hearing is set for July 31, 2026.

Quick Facts: Wright v. Hermanson Company, LLP, et al.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$4,750,000
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	June 15, 2026
Who Qualifies	Individuals who applied for a job in Washington with any Hermanson entity between January 1, 2023, and March 25, 2026
Payout Per Person	Equal share of the net Class Fund — divided among approximately 8,500 class members
Claim Form Required	No — payment is automatic by mail or electronic transfer
Settlement Status	Preliminarily Approved
Administrator	Simpluris, Inc. — P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799
Official Website	epoasettlementhcllp.com
Phone	(833) 386-6506
Email	[email protected]
Last Updated	May 20, 2026

Current Status of the Hermanson Settlement

• The court granted preliminary approval, and the Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Joe Campagna at King County Superior Court, 516 Third Avenue, Room E-762, Seattle, WA. You can also attend remotely via Zoom (Meeting ID: 891 3254 8853 / Password: 945543).
• The deadline to opt out or object is June 15, 2026. If you miss this date, you will be bound by the settlement and cannot sue Hermanson separately for these same claims.
• No payment will be issued until the court grants final approval. Settlement checks expire 180 days from the date of issue.

What Is the Hermanson Lawsuit About? Wright v. Hermanson Company, LLP, et al., No. 24-2-14081-6 SEA

Washington state’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA), RCW 49.58.110, requires employers with 15 or more employees to include the wage scale or salary range — and a general description of benefits — in every job posting for positions that could be filled by a Washington-based applicant. The law went into effect January 1, 2023, and applies to every employer posting jobs in the state, whether the company is based in Washington or not.

Related article: $850K Dartmouth-Hitchcock ERISA Retirement Plan Settlement, Are You Eligible for a Payment? No Claim Form Required

Plaintiff Katherine Wright filed this lawsuit on June 24, 2024, in King County Superior Court, alleging that Hermanson Company, LLP; Hermanson Corporation; Hermanson Group II, LLC; and Hermanson Management Group, LLC all posted job openings in Washington without including the required salary range information. The lawsuit was brought as a false advertising class action (employment discrimination claim) under RCW 49.58.110 and RCW 49.58.070, which allows applicants to seek interest, liquidated damages, exemplary damages, and statutory damages. If you applied for any position with a Hermanson entity in Washington during this period and the posting did not show the salary range, your experience is exactly what this lawsuit addresses. For broader context on how Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act class actions work and what job applicants can expect, see our overview of consumer class action lawsuits and how they resolve.

Hermanson denied all allegations and maintains it did not violate any law. The settlement was reached through arm’s-length negotiation — and notably, it was reached in response to Hermanson’s employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) policy limits of $5,000,000, which means the $4.75 million represents substantially the maximum available under the policy.

Who Qualifies for the Hermanson Pay Transparency Settlement?

If you applied for a job with any Hermanson entity in Washington during the class period, here is how to know if you are included in this employment class action settlement.

You may qualify if:

• You applied for a job opening in Washington with Hermanson Company, LLP; Hermanson Corporation; Hermanson Group II, LLC; or Hermanson Management Group, LLC
• Your application was submitted between January 1, 2023, and March 25, 2026
• The job posting did not include the wage scale or salary range and/or a general description of benefits
• You are identified in Hermanson’s employment records — the company has approximately 8,500 class members in its records

You are likely NOT included if:

• You applied for a position outside of Washington state
• You applied before January 1, 2023 (the date Washington’s EPOA salary disclosure requirement took effect)
• You are a named Defendant, or an officer, director, or immediate family member of a Defendant
• You submitted a valid, timely opt-out request by June 15, 2026

You do not need to have been hired. The Washington Supreme Court ruled in September 2025 that any job applicant can bring a claim under the pay transparency statute — hired or not. You also do not need to prove you suffered a financial loss. Similar cases like the Mejuri $950K Washington pay transparency settlement used the same framework, paying all eligible applicants an equal share automatically.

How Much Will Hermanson Settlement Class Members Receive?

The gross settlement is $4,750,000. From that fund, the following deductions come out first:

• Attorneys’ fees: Emery Reddy, PC will seek $1,583,333.33 (one-third of the fund)
• Litigation costs: up to $5,000
• Class representative service award: $25,000 for Katherine Wright
• Settlement administration costs: up to $25,000 for Simpluris, Inc.

What remains after those deductions is the Class Fund, divided equally among all class members who do not opt out. With approximately 8,500 class members, the estimated per-person payment — before any adjustments — works out to roughly $340 to $360 per person, depending on final deductions and opt-out rates. The exact amount is not confirmed yet because it depends on the court’s fee award and how many class members exclude themselves.

Payments will be characterized as non-wage damages (1099) — not wages. That means no payroll tax deductions, but you may owe income tax on your payment. Class members should consult a tax professional about their specific situation. If your payment is returned as undeliverable or sent electronically and goes unclaimed for 30 days, you can request a re-send. All checks expire 180 days from the date of issue.

How to Receive Your Hermanson Settlement Payment

There is no claim form to file. If you are in Hermanson’s records as a qualifying applicant, your payment will come to you automatically — but you must make sure Simpluris has your correct address.

Step 1 — Confirm your current mailing address is on file. Contact Simpluris directly: call (833) 386-6506, email [email protected], or mail the Address Form (included with your notice) to: Wright v. Hermanson Company, LLP Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 26170, Santa Ana, CA 92799.

Step 2 — Submit IRS Form W-9 to the Settlement Administrator if you received one with your notice. Failing to submit it may result in backup withholding before your payment is issued.

Step 3 — Decide before June 15, 2026, whether you want to opt out (you lose your payment but keep the right to sue individually) or object (you stay in the class but ask the court to change something about the settlement).

Step 4 — If you do nothing, you stay in the class, receive your payment automatically, and release your claims against Hermanson related to the EPOA.

Step 5 — Monitor epoasettlementhcllp.com for payment distribution updates after the July 31, 2026 Final Approval Hearing. Payments go out approximately 45 days after the settlement becomes final, assuming no appeals.

Estimated time to update your address: under 5 minutes.

Important Dates in the Hermanson Settlement

Milestone	Date
Lawsuit Filed	June 24, 2024
Settlement Agreement Signed	November 4–5, 2025
Class Period Start	January 1, 2023
Class Period End (Preliminary Approval)	March 25, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	June 15, 2026
Objection Deadline	June 15, 2026
Notice of Intent to Appear Deadline	June 15, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 31, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Expected Payment Date	TBD — approximately 45 days after settlement becomes final, assuming no appeals
Payment Check Expiration	180 days from date of issue

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against Hermanson Company? 

Yes. Katherine Wright filed Wright v. Hermanson Company, LLP, et al., No. 24-2-14081-6 SEA, in King County Superior Court on June 24, 2024, alleging Hermanson violated Washington’s EPOA by posting jobs without salary ranges. The case settled for $4,750,000 and has received preliminary court approval.

Do I need to do anything right now to receive my payment?

 Your main task is confirming Simpluris has your current mailing address — especially if you have moved since you applied for the job. Call (833) 386-6506 or email [email protected]. If your address is current, no other action is required.

How will I know if I am in the settlement class? 

Hermanson’s records identify approximately 8,500 class members. If you applied for a Washington job with any Hermanson entity between January 1, 2023, and March 25, 2026, you are likely included. If you did not receive a notice and believe you qualify, contact Simpluris directly.

Do I need to have been hired to receive a payment?

 No. Washington’s pay transparency law covers applicants — not just employees who were actually hired. Any person who applied for a qualifying posting that lacked a salary range may be included, regardless of whether Hermanson extended a job offer.

Can I opt out and sue Hermanson on my own? 

Yes, but you must submit your written opt-out request postmarked no later than June 15, 2026 to the Settlement Administrator. If you opt out, you will not receive any payment from this settlement. Consult an employment discrimination attorney before deciding.

When will I receive my Hermanson settlement payment? 

Payments will not go out until after the court grants final approval at the July 31, 2026 hearing and any appeal period passes. Assuming no appeals, Defendants must fund the settlement within 45 days of the Effective Date, and Simpluris must distribute payments within 7 days after that. A realistic target is late fall 2026, though the exact timeline is TBD — pending final court approval.

Will this payment affect my taxes?

 Payments are classified as non-wage damages (1099). This means no payroll taxes are withheld at the time of payment, but you may owe federal and/or state income taxes depending on your situation. Class members are responsible for any taxes owed. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

Do I need a lawyer to participate?

 No. Emery Reddy, PC represents the entire class at no additional cost to you. Their fees come from the settlement fund. If you prefer independent representation, you may hire a consumer rights lawyer or employment discrimination attorney at your own expense.

Sources & References

• Settlement Agreement, Wright v. Hermanson Company, LLP, et al., No. 24-2-14081-6 SEA (King County Superior Court, executed November 4–5, 2025): cw.simpluris.com
• Official Settlement Website and FAQ, Simpluris, Inc.: epoasettlementhcllp.com
• King County Superior Court Docket, Case No. 24-2-14081-6 SEA

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official settlement agreement and settlement website maintained by Simpluris, Inc. Last Updated: May 20, 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.