Studio One Theaters Tip Pool Class Action Settlement
Studio One Theaters Tip Pool Class Action Settlement
VCE Theaters, LLC, which does business as Studio One Theaters, agreed to a $280,000 settlement of employment claims over tip pools that allegedly included managers, supervisors, or other statutory employers. Current and former Studio One employees who were paid for a pay period in which they participated in such a tip pool, from late 2018 through April 9, 2026, receive an estimated $138.00, or an estimated $276.01 if they opted in to the FLSA Collective. No claim form is required, but class members should keep their mailing address current.
Settlement fund
$280K
Gross settlement fund; administration costs paid separately
Top payout
Automatic
Estimated $138.00, or $276.01 for FLSA opt-ins
Claim form
No claim form
Paid about 60 days after final approval
No claim form needed
Payments are mailed automatically, so update your mailing address on the settlement website if you have moved.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You are a current or former Studio One employee who received a paycheck for a pay period in which you participated in a tip pool that included managers, supervisors, or other statutory employers.
- Your pay period fell between when Studio One opened in late 2018 and April 9, 2026.
- No claim form and no proof needed. Class Members who timely opted in to the FLSA Collective receive a second share.
- Excluded: People who, according to Studio One's Ready Theater Systems records, only ever worked as an "hourly manager" or "lead."
- Excluded: Anyone who submitted a valid request to opt out by July 21, 2026.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Settlement Administrator at (866) 602-2260, email info@cacsg.com, write to Atkins v. Studio One Notice Administration, c/o CAC Services Group, LLC, 6420 Flying Cloud Dr Ste 101, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, or visit StudioOneSettlement.com.
What happened
Alexander Atkins filed this lawsuit on June 28, 2023 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, and it was removed to federal court in Oregon on September 13, 2023. The case asserts Oregon class claims and Fair Labor Standards Act collective claims related to alleged tip pool violations, alleging that Studio One employees shared tips in pools that included managers, supervisors, or other statutory employers. Mr. Atkins also asserts individual claims, including retaliation, against Studio One and Jason Lensch.
Studio One and Jason Lensch deny doing anything wrong, and the Court has not decided the case in favor of either side. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and delay of continued litigation. The Fairness Hearing was scheduled for August 26, 2026, and the settlement website says payments are distributed about 60 days after final approval.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are a Class Member
Notices were mailed on May 22, 2026 to employees identified in Studio One's records as having participated in a tip pool that included managers, supervisors, or other statutory employers. If you are unsure whether you are included, call CAC Services Group at (866) 602-2260.
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2. Understand your estimated payment
Each Class Member receives one share of the Net Settlement Fund, and each Class Member who timely opted in to the FLSA Collective receives a second share. The value of a share is currently estimated at $138.00, so estimated payments are $138.00 for most Class Members and $276.01 for FLSA opt-ins. Final amounts depend on the deductions the Court approves.
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3. No claim form: keep your address current
You do not need to file a claim. To make sure your payment reaches you, use the Update Address page on the settlement website, call (866) 602-2260, email info@cacsg.com, or write to Atkins v. Studio One Notice Administration, c/o CAC Services Group, LLC, 6420 Flying Cloud Dr Ste 101, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. The Class Notice, Settlement Agreement, and court orders are posted at StudioOneSettlement.com.
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4. Receive your payment
Payments are made only if the Court grants final approval. The settlement website lists payment distribution about 60 days after final approval. The Fairness Hearing was scheduled for August 26, 2026, and the website had not posted a final approval update as of October 2026, so check the site for the current schedule.
Key dates
- Jul 21, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Passed
- None No claim form required Automatic
- Aug 26, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (9:00 a.m. PT) Passed
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Fairness Hearing was scheduled for August 26, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. PT at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse, 1000 S.W. Third Ave., Portland, OR 97204. The opt-out and objection deadlines passed on July 21, 2026. Payments are expected about 60 days after final approval. Dates are subject to change by court order, so check StudioOneSettlement.com for updates.
Where the money is going
Studio One agreed to pay $280,000 into a Gross Settlement Fund. Court-approved attorneys' fees, litigation costs, service payments, and payment of Mr. Atkins's individual claims come out of the fund, and the rest is divided into equal shares among Class Members, with FLSA opt-ins receiving two shares. Settlement administration costs are paid by Defendants separately and are not deducted from the fund. Any leftover money goes to the Northwest Workers Justice Project.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval. The Court may award less than the amounts requested. Per-person amounts are estimates from the Class Notice and may change based on the deductions the Court approves. Any remaining funds go to the Northwest Workers Justice Project.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
The Class Notice estimates $138.00 for most Class Members and $276.01 for Class Members who timely opted in to the FLSA Collective. These are estimates, and the final amounts depend on the deductions the Court approves.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
No. There is no claim form and no documentation is required. Class Members were identified from Studio One's records, and payments are sent automatically to the address on file.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Notices were mailed on May 22, 2026 to employees identified in Studio One's records. If you worked at Studio One and believe you participated in a tip pool that included managers or supervisors between late 2018 and April 9, 2026, contact CAC Services Group at (866) 602-2260 or info@cacsg.com and update your address on the settlement website.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
Class Members who did not opt out release their claims against Studio One and Jason Lensch over the same issues and legal violations raised in the lawsuit. The full release is in the Settlement Agreement posted on the settlement website.
When will payments be sent out?
Payments are made only if the Court grants final approval. The settlement website lists distribution about 60 days after final approval following the August 26, 2026 Fairness Hearing. An appeal could delay payments.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with VCE Theaters, LLC, dba Studio One Theaters, CAC Services Group, LLC (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Shanti S. Lewallen of Lewallen Law, LLC. The case is Alexander Atkins v. VCE Theaters, LLC, dba Studio One Theaters, and Jason Lensch, Case No. 3:23-cv-01332-SB, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon before the Honorable Stacie F. Beckerman, United States Magistrate Judge. Class representatives are Alexander Atkins and Maxim Horner. Studio One denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.