An applicant for employment, Jacob Atkinson (“Plaintiff” or “Class Representative”) filed two lawsuits against AJP Enterprises, LLC, NHG Enterprises, LLC, and FNS Food Service Group, LLC (collectively, “Defendants”) on behalf of himself and a class of similarly situated applicants for employment. The Defendants own and operate several Jack in the Box and Jimmy John’s locations in Washington State. The lawsuits are currently pending in King County Superior Court under the lead case, Atkinson v. AJP Enterprises, LLC, Case No. 23-2-10313-1 KNT (the “Lawsuits”). In the Lawsuits, Plaintiff brought claims under the Washington Equal Pay & Opportunities Act (“EPOA”) claiming that: (1) Defendants’ job postings for open positions in Washington did not disclose the wage scale or salary range being offered in violation of RCW 49.58.110 (“Pay Transparency Action”); and (2) Defendants’ job applications unlawfully requested salary history from applicants in violation of RCW 49.58.100 (“Salary History Action”). Defendants dispute Plaintiff’s claims and contend they have not violated any law and Plaintiff’s claims are without merit.

The Court has not made any determinations regarding the merits of the Plaintiff’s claims, and it has not decided whether Defendants violated the law.