Settled, paying · closes September 1, 2026
Guitar Center California wage lawsuit, who is covered and what to check
Last checked July 27, 2026
Seilhamer v. Guitar Center Stores, Inc. was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County by a former employee. The complaint said Guitar Center shorted California workers on overtime, minimum wage and final pay, and skipped required meal periods, rest breaks and accurate wage statements.
Guitar Center denies the claims and agreed to a $2,418,495 settlement. There is no claim form. Class members are paid automatically, and the main thing to do now is confirm the workweeks on file for you.
What the lawsuit alleges
California labor law sets rules on overtime, meal and rest periods, wage statements and pay at termination. The plaintiff argued that Guitar Center broke several of those rules for non-exempt store employees. A separate part of the case is brought under PAGA, the Private Attorneys General Act, which lets a worker recover civil penalties on the state's behalf.
Who is in the class
- Non-exempt Guitar Center employees who worked in California between January 11, 2020 and July 11, 2025.
- For the PAGA portion, non-exempt California employees between January 11, 2022 and July 11, 2025.
- People who already released these claims in another agreement are not included.
Where the case stands
The settlement is awaiting final approval. The hearing is set for October 2, 2026, and payments go out after that if no appeal is filed. Each payment is calculated from the number of workweeks you logged during the class period, so amounts vary from person to person.
The opt-out deadline is September 1, 2026. You can exclude yourself from the class portion by writing to the administrator, but the PAGA payment cannot be opted out of.
What to do with Atticus Administration
Atticus Administration is the settlement administrator. Its site, CAEmployeeSettlementGuitarCenter.com, shows your estimated workweeks and payment. If the number looks wrong, send a challenge with pay stubs or similar records to Atticus Administration, P.O. Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164, or call 800-470-0690.
No filing fee applies anywhere in this process. Payout, a free settlement-discovery app, lists the case too, though there is nothing to file through it since payment is automatic.
Questions about the Guitar Center Wage and Hour case
Do I have to submit a claim form for the Guitar Center settlement?
No. Class members are enrolled automatically and paid based on workweeks during the class period.
What if my estimated workweeks are wrong?
Send a written challenge with pay stubs or other records to Atticus Administration at P.O. Box 64053, St. Paul, MN 55164, or call 800-470-0690.
Can I opt out of the Guitar Center settlement?
You can opt out of the class portion with a written request to the administrator by September 1, 2026. The PAGA portion has no opt-out.
When are Guitar Center settlement payments sent?
After the final approval hearing on October 2, 2026, provided no one appeals.
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