Eligible dancers who worked at six Ohio clubs may be able to claim a share of a proposed $800,000 class action settlement. The agreement covers certain dancers who worked under an "Entertainer Tenant System" or similar lease arrangement and were not paid wages.
The settlement is notable for more than its cash fund. If approved, it would also end the challenged tenant-system and rent practices at the covered clubs, while requiring a different employment model going forward. Claims must be received by October 20, 2026.
Who is included in the settlement?
The settlement class generally includes non-owner, non-employer dancers who worked between May 14, 2014, and June 16, 2025, at one or more of six Ohio clubs: Cheeks, Top Hat, House of Babes, Private Dancer, Fantasyland West, and Sirens.
To qualify, the dancer must have worked while the club used the Entertainer Tenant System, a similar system, or a lease arrangement and paid no wages for the work. The official settlement materials contain the controlling class definition, so anyone with an unusual work history should compare it with their dates and club location before filing.
The lawsuit alleged that dancers were required to sign lease agreements, were treated as tenants or independent contractors, paid rent or other fees, and were not paid wages. The defendants deny most of the allegations and deny violating the law. The settlement is a compromise, not a court finding that either side is correct.
How will the $800,000 fund be distributed?
Class members must submit a valid claim to receive money. The notice does not promise a fixed payment or a maximum individual award. Payments will come from the net settlement fund after approved costs and other court-authorized deductions, so the amount for each claimant will depend on the settlement's final allocation and the valid claims received.
Claims may be submitted online or by mail. A claim must be signed or electronically signed and received by October 20, 2026. The notice does not identify a separate supporting-document requirement, but claimants should answer every requested question accurately and keep a copy of the completed form and submission confirmation.
The proposed agreement also allows class counsel to request attorneys' fees equal to one-third of the settlement amount, plus reimbursement of expenses. The two named plaintiffs may each request a $5,000 service award. The court will decide whether to approve those requests.
What changes would the clubs have to make?
The non-cash relief is unusually important here. Thirty days after final approval, the defendants would stop using the Entertainer Tenant System and the related lease and rent-charge practices. Certain defendants would also stop promoting or distributing that system to other clubs.
At covered clubs that continue operating, dancers would be allowed to choose between employee status and a genuine independent-contractor arrangement, or the club could classify all dancers as employees. The settlement calls for compliance with applicable wage and tax obligations and says dancers should not be pressured toward one classification.
This operational relief does not require a claim form. In other words, an eligible dancer may benefit from the business-practice changes even if she does not submit a claim for money, although the release consequences differ depending on whether a person claims, excludes herself, or remains in the class.
What should dancers know before filing?
Submitting a claim is the only way to request a cash payment. Claimants also give an additional release of Fair Labor Standards Act claims described in the settlement materials. Class members who do nothing generally remain bound by the settlement's other release if it becomes final, but will not receive money.
The deadline to object or request exclusion is also October 20, 2026. Excluding oneself preserves the right to pursue released claims separately but gives up any settlement payment. An objection tells the court why a class member believes the agreement should not be approved; it is not the same as opting out.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for December 1, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The notice does not state a hearing time or time zone. Payments will not be distributed unless the court approves the settlement and any appeals are resolved.