McDonald's Franchise $3.55 Million Unpaid Meal Break Class Action Settlement
By Steve Levine
Published: March 3, 2026
Claim Form Deadline: March 8, 2026
Payout: $31.14 guaranteed + up to $872.49 with claim
Proof required: No
What is the McDonald's Franchise Meal Break Settlement?
If you worked as an hourly employee at a McDonald's franchise location in the Portland, Oregon area operated by UTB Enterprises, Goldenband, Donald D. Armstrong, or Lori Armstrong at any time after March 8, 2014, you may be eligible for a cash payment of up to $872.49 from a $3.55 million class action settlement. All class members receive a guaranteed payment of $31.14 even without filing a claim. If you submit a claim form and qualify for the extra payment, you could receive significantly more. No proof of employment is required. The deadline to file a claim is March 8, 2026.The lawsuit alleged that these McDonald's franchise operators violated Oregon wage and hour laws by failing to pay employees for meal periods that were less than 30 minutes. Under Oregon law, if an employer provides a meal break that is shorter than 30 minutes during a shift of at least six hours, the employer must pay the worker for that time. The defendants deny any wrongdoing and agreed to settle to avoid the continued costs of litigation.
What McDonald's Locations Are Covered?
This settlement covers approximately 19 McDonald's franchise restaurants in the Portland metropolitan area and Multnomah County region of Oregon. These locations were operated by UTB Enterprises, LLC and Goldenband, LLC, which are franchise companies owned by Donald D. Armstrong and Lori Armstrong. UTB Enterprises is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.It is important to understand that this settlement only applies to these specific franchise-operated McDonald's locations in Oregon. It does not apply to corporate-owned McDonald's restaurants or McDonald's franchise locations operated by other owners anywhere else in the country. If you worked at a McDonald's in Oregon but are not sure whether it was operated by UTB Enterprises or Goldenband, you can contact the settlement administrator to find out.
What is Oregon's Meal Break Law?
Oregon has specific laws about meal breaks and rest periods that are more protective than federal law. Under Oregon law, employers must provide employees with an unpaid meal period of at least 30 minutes for every work period of six hours or more. Employees must also receive a paid rest period of at least 10 minutes for every four hours worked.The key rule at the center of this lawsuit is what happens when a meal break is shorter than 30 minutes. If an employer gives a worker a meal break that lasts less than 30 minutes, Oregon law requires that the employer pay the worker for the entire break period. The break does not count as an unpaid meal period because it was not long enough under state law.
In a fast-food restaurant environment, short meal breaks are common. Workers may be called back to the counter or kitchen before their 30 minutes are up, or they may be given breaks that are scheduled for less than 30 minutes to begin with. This lawsuit alleges that these McDonald's franchise locations routinely gave workers meal breaks of less than 30 minutes without paying them for that time.
Who Qualifies for the McDonald's Settlement?
You are part of the settlement class if you worked as an hourly employee at a McDonald's franchise location operated by UTB Enterprises, LLC, Goldenband, LLC, Donald D. Armstrong, or Lori Armstrong at any time after March 8, 2014, and you had a meal period of less than 30 minutes during a six-hour shift that was not paid.If you received a notice in the mail about this settlement, you have already been identified as a class member.
How Much Money Will I Get?
There are two levels of payment in this settlement:Guaranteed payment: All class members will automatically receive $31.14 even if they do nothing. This money will be mailed to you.
Extra claimable payment: If you submit a valid claim form, you may be eligible for an additional payment bringing your total up to $872.49. The exact amount depends on how recently your employment took place. More recent employees may receive more.
The total settlement fund is $3.55 million. After deducting attorney fees (up to $1,833,333.33), service payments to the class representatives ($15,000 each to Timothy South and Sharla Gaskill), and administration costs, the remaining funds are distributed among class members. Any leftover money after all payments are made will be donated to Legal Aid Services of Oregon and the Northwest Workers' Justice Project.
How Do I File a Claim?
You can submit a claim form online at UTBGoldenbandClassAction.com or download a claim form and mail, email, or fax it to the settlement administrator. The deadline to submit a claim is March 8, 2026. Mailed claim forms must be postmarked by that date.Filing a claim gives you the opportunity to receive extra money beyond the guaranteed $31.14 payment. If you do not file a claim, you will still receive the guaranteed payment but will miss out on potentially hundreds of dollars more.
Is Proof Required to File a Claim?
No proof of employment is required to receive the guaranteed payment. If you submit a claim form for the extra payment, you will need to provide information about your employment, including the dates you worked, the McDonald's location where you worked, and your hours. The settlement administrator will review your claim.What are the Important Dates?
Claim Form Deadline: March 8, 2026
Objection Deadline: January 7, 2026 (passed)
Final Approval Hearing: March 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM, Multnomah County Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland, OR 97204
When Will Payments Be Sent?
Payments will be sent after the Court holds the fairness hearing on March 27, 2026 and decides whether to approve the settlement. If there are appeals, payments may be delayed. The settlement administrator asks for patience as claim forms are processed.What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you do nothing, you will still receive the guaranteed payment of $31.14. However, you will not receive any extra claimable money that you may be eligible for. You will also be bound by the settlement terms and give up the right to sue UTB Enterprises, Goldenband, Donald D. Armstrong, or Lori Armstrong over the same meal break issues raised in this lawsuit.What Was the McDonald's Meal Break Lawsuit About?
Timothy South and Sharla Gaskill filed this class action lawsuit in August 2020 in the Circuit Court of Oregon, Multnomah County. The lawsuit accused UTB Enterprises, Goldenband, Donald D. Armstrong, and Lori Armstrong of violating Oregon wage and hour laws by failing to pay hourly McDonald's employees for meal periods that were less than 30 minutes.The defendants are McDonald's franchise operators who owned and operated approximately 19 McDonald's restaurants in the Portland metropolitan area. The Armstrong family had been in the McDonald's franchise business for over four decades before retiring. Their attorney stated that they denied any wrongdoing and agreed to settle the case to avoid continued litigation costs in their retirement.
In November 2024, the parties reached a settlement agreement. The Court preliminarily approved the settlement on October 23, 2025, and class notices were sent to identified class members on December 8, 2025.
Case Information
Caption: South et al. v. Armstrong et al., Case No. 20CV29671
Court: Circuit Court of Oregon, Multnomah County
Class Counsel: Jon M. Egan, Jon M. Egan, PC (Lake Oswego, OR)
How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?
Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:Official Settlement Notice (PDF)
Claim Form Website: UTBGoldenbandClassAction.com
Submit Claim
Sources
• Official Settlement SiteFiling Class Action Settlement Claims
Please note that your claim form will be rejected if you submit a settlement claim with any fraudulent information. By providing this information and your sworn statement of its veracity, you agree to do so under the penalty of perjury. If you are not sure whether you qualify, visit the class action administrator's website. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.
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Submit Claim| McDonald's Meal Break Settlement Summary | |
| Status | Open — File Claim |
|---|---|
| Claim Deadline | March 8, 2026 |
| Objection Deadline | January 7, 2026 (passed) |
| Final Approval Hearing | March 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM (Portland, OR) |
| Settlement Amount | $3,550,000 |
| Estimated Payment | $31.14 guaranteed; up to $872.49 with claim |
| Proof Required | No |
| Who Qualifies | Hourly employees of UTB Enterprises / Goldenband McDonald's locations (Oregon) after March 8, 2014 with unpaid short meal breaks |
| Website | UTB Goldenband Class Action |
| Claims Administrator | Settlement Administrator (PO Box 5129, Portland, OR 97208) |