Robinson v. Jackson Hewitt

Defendants Jackson Hewitt Inc. (“Jackson Hewitt”) and Tax Services of America, Inc. (together “Defendants”) have reached an agreement to settle the claims brought in the class action lawsuit entitled Robinson, et al. v. Jackson Hewitt, et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-9066 (MEF) (JRA) (DNJ), alleging that Defendants entered into and engaged in “no-poach agreements” and enforced those unlawful agreements in restraint of trade and commerce, in violation of Sections 1 and 3 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1, 3. Plaintiffs allege that these agreements had the purpose and effect of: (1) fixing, reducing, and stabilizing the wages, benefits and other aspects of compensation of the Class at artificially low levels; and (2) eliminating, to a substantial degree, competition among Defendants and their coconspirators for labor. Plaintiffs allege that, as a result, members of the Class have suffered injury, including: (1) lower compensation from Defendants than they otherwise would have received in the absence of the no-poach agreements and (2) reduced competition among Defendants and their franchisees for labor. Defendants deny they did anything wrong. The parties settled the case to avoid the costs and risks of continuing the Lawsuit. Specifically, Defendants agreed to pay $10,800,000 total to resolve the claims against them. You are a settlement class member if you are a person who worked in a tax preparer position at any company-owned Jackson Hewitt location in the United States at any time between December 20, 2014 and July 3, 2024. Excluded from the Settlement Class are: Defendants and their affiliates, the Judge, including the Judge’s staff and immediate family members, senior executives, personnel in Jackson Hewitt’s executive, HR and recruiting departments, persons outside of the United States, franchisee owners, and managers. If you do not want to be bound by this settlement, you must act by September 30, 2024 if you wish to exclude yourself and preserve your right to file your own lawsuit or to object to the settlement.

You do not need to file a claim to remain in the Settlement Class. By doing nothing, you will remain in the Settlement Class and release your antitrust claims against Defendants. If the settlement receives final approval, you will be sent a payment from the Settlement Fund Amount.

The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing on November 22, 2024, 9:00 a.m. EST, in Courtroom 3 of the Frank Lautenberg United States Courthouse at 2 Federal Square, Newark, NJ 07102.