Papa John's $2.25 Million BIPA Fingerprint Settlement — Illinois Franchise Workers Can File a Claim
By Steve Levine
Published: March 10, 2026
Claim Deadline: April 17, 2026
Payout: Pro rata share of $2,250,000 fund (depends on number of claims filed)
Who qualifies: Illinois franchise Papa John's workers who used the finger scanner (Dec 2015 – Dec 2025)
What Is This Settlement About?
If you ever worked at a franchisee-owned Papa John's restaurant in Illinois and had to scan your finger when clocking in or out, this settlement could put money in your pocket.Illinois has a law called the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) that says companies cannot collect biometric data — like fingerprints, face scans, or hand scans — without first giving you written notice explaining what they are collecting and why, and then getting your written consent before they collect it. This law exists because unlike a password, you cannot change your fingerprints if they are compromised.
The lawsuit alleged that Papa John's collected fingerprint scans from workers at franchise-owned locations through its FOCUS point-of-sale system's finger scanner without providing proper notice or obtaining written consent as required by BIPA. When workers clocked in and out of their shifts, they used the finger scanner, and the lawsuit claims Papa John's captured and stored that biometric data without following the law.
Papa John's denies all of the claims. The company says the type of information it collected is not covered by BIPA and that it provided the required notice and obtained proper consent. The court has not determined who is right. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the costs and uncertainty of continuing the lawsuit.
Papa John's has agreed to pay $2,250,000 to settle the case. Approximately 10,975 people are estimated to be in the class.
Do I Qualify?
You qualify if you worked at a franchisee-owned Papa John's location in Illinois and used the FOCUS point-of-sale system's finger scanner at any time between December 3, 2015 and December 17, 2025.You do not qualify if you only worked at a corporate-owned Papa John's location (not a franchise), if you already settled your BIPA claims separately with Papa John's, or if you worked for any of the judges or lawyers involved in the case.
Not sure whether your location was franchise-owned or corporate? Most Papa John's locations are franchise-owned. If you used a finger scanner to clock in and out at a Papa John's in Illinois during the class period, there is a good chance you qualify. You can check with the settlement administrator if you are unsure.
How Much Money Will I Get?
The exact amount depends on how many people file valid claims. The total settlement fund is $2,250,000. Attorneys' fees (up to one-third of the net fund), $13,890.42 in expenses, a $10,000 incentive award to the class representative, and administration costs will be deducted first. The remaining money is divided equally among everyone who files a valid claim.The fewer people who file, the bigger each individual payment. With approximately 10,975 class members, if everyone filed, each person would receive roughly $100-$150 (after fees). But in most class action settlements, only a fraction of eligible people actually file claims, which means your payment could be significantly higher.
If any checks go uncashed, that money gets redistributed to the people who did cash their checks — so you could get a second payment later.
How Do I Choose to Get Paid?
When you submit your claim form, you can choose how you want to receive your payment: check mailed to you, ACH direct deposit, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or digital Mastercard. You select your preferred method on the claim form.What Are the Important Dates?
Claim Deadline: April 17, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline: April 17, 2026
Objection Deadline: April 17, 2026
Final Approval Hearing: May 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM CT, Courtroom 1203, Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Chicago, IL
Class Period: December 3, 2015 – December 17, 2025
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you do nothing, you will not receive any payment. You will also give up your right to sue Papa John's over the same claims in the future. If you want to preserve your right to sue separately, you must opt out by April 17, 2026 — but if you opt out, you get no payment from this settlement.Case Information
Caption: Kyles v. Papa John's International Inc., et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-07146
Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Judge: Honorable John Robert Blakey
Settlement Fund: $2,250,000
Estimated Class Size: ~10,975 people
Class Counsel: Loevy + Loevy (Thomas R. Kayes); Nick Larry Law LLC (J. Dominick Larry)
Attorney Fees: Up to one-third of the net settlement fund
Claim: Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) violations — fingerprint data collection without notice/consent
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)
Settlement Website: PJBipaLawsuit.com
Submit Claim
Sources
• Official Settlement Site — PJBipaLawsuit.com• Court-authorized settlement notice (reviewed March 2026)
Filing 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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Pre-Qualify| Papa John's BIPA Settlement Summary | |
| Status | Open — Filing Claims Now |
|---|---|
| Claim Deadline | April 17, 2026 |
| Opt-Out / Objection Deadline | April 17, 2026 |
| Final Approval Hearing | May 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM CT (Chicago) |
| Settlement Fund | $2,250,000 |
| Estimated Payout | Pro rata — depends on number of claims filed |
| Who Qualifies | Illinois franchise Papa John's workers who used finger scanner (Dec 2015 – Dec 2025) |
| Class Size | ~10,975 people |
| Website | PJBipaLawsuit.com |