--- title: $8.5 Million Settlement Submitted for Final Approval in Gentlemen’s Club Employment Class Action description: An $8.5 million settlement was submitted to California federal court judge Jesus G. Bernal by a class of exotic dancers who claimed that their former employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. image: https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/bar-2250054_960_720.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/8.5-million-settlement-submitted-for-final-approval-in-gentlemens-club-employment-class-action#main-content) [![Brandmark](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/2024%20Website/Brand%20Logos/Brandmark.svg "Brandmark")](https://counselfinancial.com/) [![Counsel Financial](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/2024%20Website/Brand%20Logos/Text-Logo.svg "Counsel Financial")](https://counselfinancial.com/) - [Law Firms](https://counselfinancial.com/law-firms) - [Capital Providers](https://counselfinancial.com/captial-providers) - About Us Show submenu for About Us ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Loan Process](https://counselfinancial.com/about/loan-process) - [Our Team](https://counselfinancial.com/about/our-team) - [Lending Philosophy](https://counselfinancial.com/about/lending-philosophy) - [Contact](https://counselfinancial.com/contact) - Resources Show submenu for Resources ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Blog](https://counselfinancial.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://counselfinancial.com/case-studies) - [Law Firms](https://counselfinancial.com/law-firms) - [Capital Providers](https://counselfinancial.com/captial-providers) - About Us Show submenu for About Us ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Loan Process](https://counselfinancial.com/about/loan-process) - [Our Team](https://counselfinancial.com/about/our-team) - [Lending Philosophy](https://counselfinancial.com/about/lending-philosophy) - [Contact](https://counselfinancial.com/contact) - Resources Show submenu for Resources ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Blog](https://counselfinancial.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://counselfinancial.com/case-studies) [Request a Meeting ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/button-arrow-blue.svg)](https://counselfinancial.com/request-a-meeting) [Contact ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/button-arrow-blue.svg)](https://counselfinancial.com/contact) [Blog](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/blog), [Employment—Wage and Hour](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/employment-wage-and-hour) # $8.5 Million Settlement Submitted for Final Approval in Gentlemen’s Club Employment Class Action By: Elizabeth DiNardo, Esq. | Associate Counsel March 01, 2018 ![bar-2250054_960_720.jpg](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/bar-2250054_960_720.jpg) ![bar-2250054_960_720.jpg](https://counselfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/bar-2250054_960_720.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=bar-2250054_960_720.jpg) On February 23, 2018, an $8.5 million settlement was submitted to California federal court judge Jesus G. Bernal by a class of exotic dancers who claimed that their former employer, the Spearmint Rhino nightclub chain, violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.  The suit was originally filed by named plaintiffs Lauren Byrne, Bambie Bedford and Jennifer Disla on March 21, 2017. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendant company violated state wage and hour laws, in addition to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Specifically, the suit alleged that exotic dancers at the defendant gentlemen’s club were not properly compensated with minimum wage or overtime pay, and failed to provide meal and rest breaks. Additionally, plaintiffs claimed that their tips, which were their sole means of compensation, were misappropriated.  The $8.5 million settlement initially gained preliminary approval on October 30, 2017 and will be divided among a class of nearly 8,000 members.  The case is: *Lauren Byrne v. Santa Barbara Hospitality Services Inc. et al.*, Case No.: 5:17-cv-00527, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. 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