Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of the Notice?

If you received notice, then Pret’s records indicate that you worked for Pret in one of their New York City and/or New York State stores at some point between February 15, 2019, and February 1, 2024. The purpose of the Notice is to inform you of your rights and options and the time frame by which you must exercise your rights under the Settlement Agreement. If you did not work for Pret in New York during this time period, you may ignore the Notice.

2. How much will my payment be?

You will receive an award consistent with the formula that has been preliminarily approved by the Court.

Your estimated individual settlement award was included on your Notice.

You may contact the Settlement Claims Administrator at (833) 417-4904 to inquire about your estimated award, a portion of which will be subject to applicable taxes and withholding. The Settlement Agreement contains the allocation formula. You may obtain a copy of the Settlement Agreement here or by following the instructions in FAQ 16, below.

The Court still has to decide whether or not to approve the settlement. Payments will be made only if the Court approves the settlement.

3. What is this lawsuit about?

This lawsuit involves claims brought by the Plaintiffs alleging that Pret violated the New York Labor Law and The New York City Administrative Code for failure to pay all wages owed to their employees including: straight pay, overtime time, Spread of Hours Pay, uniform maintenance pay, and shift change premiums.

4. Why is this a class action?

In a class action, one or more people called “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of people who have similar claims. The people together are a “Class” or “Class Members.” The employee or former employee who filed the lawsuit is called the Plaintiff or Class Representative. One court resolves the issues for everyone in the Class – except for those who choose to exclude themselves from the Class, as explained below.

5. Why is there a settlement?

Although both Plaintiffs and Pret believe that they would have prevailed at trial, this case did not go to trial. The Court did not decide in favor of either side. Instead, the parties have agreed to a settlement. This avoids the costs of a trial and the risk that Plaintiffs would not have prevailed on their claims. The Plaintiffs and their attorneys think a settlement is the best decision for everyone involved and that this one is fair and reasonable.

6. What does the Settlement provide?

Pret has agreed to pay a total settlement of up to $1,200,000.00. Plaintiffs and the Class Members who file claims will each receive an amount of money based on the number of qualifying weeks that they worked in total during their employment.

The Settlement also asks the Court to approve a service payment of $5,000.00 each to Chris Figueroa and Curtis Cruz, the individuals who brought the Lawsuit. This service payment recognizes the many hours they gave to the Class by, among other things, retaining attorneys, supplying documents and information, and helping the attorneys investigate and prosecute the claims on behalf of the class.

7. How can I make a claim?

In order to make a claim, you must timely complete and return a Claim Form and Release. To be timely, your Claim Form and Release must be postmarked by January 2, 2026. You will have one hundred eighty (180) days from the date the check is issued to cash or deposit it. If your address changes between the time you submit your Claim Form and the time you receive your settlement check, please contact the Settlement Claims Administrator at the address below:

Figueroa v. Pret Settlement
c/o Settlement Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799

8. When will I get my payment?

The Settlement Settlement Claims Administrator will distribute Individual Settlement Checks commencing within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date of the Settlement Agreement. The Effective Date is defined in Section 1.11 of the Settlement Agreement as the date that all of the following have occurred: (A) the Court has entered the Final Approval Order, including stated provisions for the award of service payments, and for attorneys’ fees and reasonable costs, and (B) the judgment and the rulings on such motion has become Final. “Final” means the later of: (1) The date thirty-five (35) days after entry of the Final Approval Order; or (2) If rehearing, reconsideration, appellate review, and/or an extension of time for seeking appellate review is sought, thirty (30) days after any and all avenues of rehearing, reconsideration, appellate review and/or extension of time have been exhausted and no further rehearing, reconsideration, appellate review, and/or extension of time is permitted, and the time for seeking such things has expired, and the judgment has not been modified, amended, or reversed in any way.

If you have timely sent in your Claim Form and Release and the Court approves the Settlement, your payment will be mailed to you thereafter. You must cash or deposit this check within one hundred eighty (180) days after it is issued or else the check will be void but your Release of Claims will remain valid.

9. What am I giving up to get a payment or stay in the Class?

If you submit a Claim Form and Release (or do nothing), you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Pret for any wage and hour claims through September 10, 2025. In addition, if you submit a Claim Form, you will also specifically waive and release, and thus cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of on any wage and hour claims against the “Releasees” (as defined in the Settlement Agreement) that allegedly occurred on or before September 10, 2025.

If you don’t want to release any claims in the Amended Complaint against Pret and also do not want to receive a payment from this Settlement, then you must take steps to get out. This is called excluding yourself or is sometimes referred to as “opting out” of the settlement Class and is explained in FAQ 10.

10. How do I opt out the Settlement?

To exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must send a letter by first class mail that includes the words, “I Opt Out of the Figueroa v. Pret Wage and Hour Settlement.” You must include your name, address, telephone number, and signature. Your exclusion request must be postmarked no later than January 2, 2026, and must be mailed to:

Figueroa v. Pret Settlement
c/o Settlement Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799

If you ask to be excluded, you will not get any settlement payment. You will not be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit. If you exclude yourself from the lawsuit, you may not object to it. Please note that if you send in a request to be excluded and then later send in a timely Claim Form and Release before the deadline to do so expires, your exclusion (opt-out request) will be void.

11. What happens if I do nothing?

If you do nothing, your claims will not be preserved and you will be legally bound by the outcome of this lawsuit, but you will not be entitled to collect money under the Settlement. In other words, if you do not send back a Claim Form and Release or a letter excluding yourself, you release and cannot collect for these claims now or later.

12. How do I tell the Court that I object to the Settlement?

You can object to the Settlement if you are unhappy or disagree with any part of it. To object, you must send a letter via U.S. Mail stating that you object to the settlement agreement in Figueroa v. Pret A Manger (USA) Limited, Index No. 610839/2025 and stating the specific reasons for your objection. Make sure to include your name, address, telephone number and signature. Please also state the dates of your employment with Pret and your job title. Any objections must be postmarked by January 2, 2026, and be mailed to:

Figueroa v. Pret Settlement
c/o Settlement Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799

Even if you object, you must still submit a Claim Form and Release to collect any portion of settlement as the Court may still approve the settlement over your objection. If you have objected but not submitted a claim form you will not receive money.

If you submit a written objection to the Settlement and wish to speak at a Fairness Hearing (defined below), the objection should also state: “I intend to appear at a Fairness Hearing.”

If you do not comply with the foregoing procedures and deadlines for submitting objections, you will not be entitled to speak at a Fairness Hearing or contest or appeal from approval of the Settlement or any award of attorneys’ fees or expenses, or any appeal from any other orders or judgments of the Court entered in connection with the Settlement.

All timely and proper objections will be provided to the Court. Plaintiffs and Defendants may file written responses to any objections. If your objection is overruled by the Court, you will remain bound by the Settlement.

You will be notified of the date and location of a Fairness Hearing, should the Court schedule a hearing, by the Settlement Claims Administrator or Class Counsel.

13. What is the difference between objecting to the Settlement and excluding myself from the Settlement?

Objecting is simply telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. You can only object if you do not exclude yourself from the Class. Excluding yourself is an indication that you do not want to be part of the Class. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the settlement no longer affects you.

14. Do I have a lawyer in this case?

The Court has decided that the lawyers at the law firm of Bouklas Gaylord, LLP are qualified to represent you and all Class Members. These lawyers are called “Class Counsel.” You will not be charged for these lawyers. You do not need to retain your own attorney in order to participate as a Class Member. If you do not opt out of the Class and want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense. Class Counsel can be contacted at (888) 257-2016 or 357 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, New York 11725.

15. How will the lawyers be paid?

Class Counsel will ask the Court to approve payment of $400,000.00 which represents one-third (33.33%) of the settlement fund, plus costs expended of $7,073.00, for their services in investigating the case, litigating the case, and negotiating the Settlement. The percentage of the Settlement and any reimbursed expenses that will be paid to Class Counsel will have to be approved by the Court before it can be distributed.

16. How do I get more information?

This website and the Notice summarize the proposed Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement. You can get a copy of the Settlement Agreement here or by contacting the Settlement Claims Administrator at:

Figueroa v. Pret Settlement
c/o Settlement Claims Administrator
P.O. Box 26170
Santa Ana, CA 92799