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In a courtroom that has become the stage for one of Hollywood’s most scrutinized labor battles, a California judge on Monday granted final approval to Disney’s $43.25 million settlement resolving claims that the entertainment giant systematically underpaid thousands of women.

A Six-Year Fight for Equity

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu M. Berle read the approval order aloud at a morning hearing, marking the end of a 2019 lawsuit accusing Disney of sidelining women in pay, promotions, and workload while favoring male counterparts.

The certified class ballooned to 15,241 female midlevel managers, each of whom claimed the company’s compensation structure left them earning less for substantially similar work.

“We’re thrilled that Judge Berle granted final approval,” said Lori Andrus of Andrus Anderson LLP, lead counsel for the class. “My clients, whom I’ve been proud to represent for six years, are very pleased that Disney agreed to compromise. It’s a great result.”

Disney and its legal team did not immediately comment.

Settlement Terms and Oversight

The deal goes beyond cash payments. Disney must retain an outside labor economist for the next three years to conduct privileged pay equity analyses. If statistically significant gender-based pay disparities are found, the company must take corrective action.

While approving the payout, Judge Berle hit pause on a separate request for more than $14 million in attorney fees and $1.7 million in costs. The judge said he wanted further briefing on expenses tied to expert consulting, legal research, and travel. He did not dispute the attorney fee percentage itself, which equals one-third of the settlement.

Of the settlement fund, $250,000 will resolve claims under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), with 75% directed to the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the remainder distributed among workers.

How the Numbers Break Down

The agreement is projected to deliver an average award of $1,726 per class member, though actual payouts may vary. The class size, originally estimated at 14,000, grew after a deeper dive into employment records, boosting the total eligible workers to more than 15,000.

The Legal Teams Behind the Battle

The women were represented by:

• Lori Andrus of Andrus Anderson LLP

• Joseph M. Sellers, Christine E. Webber, and Phoebe Wolfe of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC

• James Kan and Stephanie E. Tilden of Dadrian Ho Kan & Lee

Disney’s defense was led by Felicia A. Davis, Elizabeth S. Minoofar, Deisy Castro, Carson H. Sullivan, and Claire A. Saba Murphy of Paul Hastings LLP.