Guitar Center Wage and Hour Class Action Settlement

What is the Guitar Center wage & hour settlement about?

The Guitar Center wage and hour class action settlement (Seilhamer v. Guitar Center Stores, Inc.) resolves a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County alleging that Guitar Center violated California labor laws by failing to pay overtime wages, minimum wages, and wages due at termination, and by failing to provide required meal periods, rest breaks, and accurate itemized wage statements. Guitar Center denies wrongdoing but agreed to a $2,418,495 fund to settle.

All non-exempt Guitar Center employees who worked in California between January 11, 2020 and July 11, 2025 are automatically included in the class settlement and will receive a payment based on their number of workweeks. A separate PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) portion covers California employees from January 11, 2022 through July 11, 2025. No claim form is required to receive payment.

Who qualifies to file a claim?

• You worked for Guitar Center Stores, Inc. as a non-exempt employee in California between January 11, 2020 and July 11, 2025.
• For the PAGA portion, you worked as a non-exempt California Guitar Center employee between January 11, 2022 and July 11, 2025.
• You have not already released claims related to the allegations in this lawsuit.

How to file a claim

1. 1No claim form is required. If you are a class member, you are automatically enrolled and will receive a payment calculated from your workweeks during the class period.
2. 2Visit the official settlement website at CAEmployeeSettlementGuitarCenter.com to review your estimated workweeks and payment amount.
3. 3If you believe your estimated workweeks are incorrect, you may submit a challenge with documentation such as pay stubs to the settlement administrator at: Atticus Administration, P.O. Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164, or call 800-470-0690.
4. 4To opt out of the class settlement portion (but not the PAGA portion), submit a written request to the settlement administrator before September 1, 2026. Note: You cannot opt out of the PAGA payment.
5. 5Payments are issued after the final approval hearing scheduled for October 2, 2026, barring any appeal.

Is the Guitar Center settlement legit?

Yes. The Guitar Center wage & hour settlement is a court-supervised class action overseen by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California (23STCV00544) and administered by an official settlement administrator. You file your claim directly with the administrator and keep 100% of any payment — Payout never takes a cut. The fastest way to avoid missing this and other settlements you qualify for is to let Payout match and file for you in minutes.