Valnet agrees to $2 million settlement in freelancer class action
The deal covers contractors who wrote or edited articles and video for Valnet sites between December 2019 and August 2026 and gave a California home address.
Valnet has agreed to a $2 million settlement in a class action lawsuit brought by former freelancer Daniel Quintiliano, according to kotaku.com. The settlement has received preliminary approval and is scheduled for final approval in February before any payments are made.
The settlement covers contractors who wrote or edited articles and video content for Valnet websites between December 2019 and August 2026 and who gave a California home address. Atticus is the settlement administrator.
By agreeing to settle, Valnet does not admit any violations or concede the merit of any claims.
The lawsuit was filed a few years back, with Quintiliano accusing Valnet of misclassifying content makers as independent contractors to deny pay and benefits. Valnet's portfolio includes Polygon, ScreenRant, TheGamer, Collider and Comic Book Resources.
Valnet began building its media empire in 2016 with the acquisition of Comic Book Resources and later obtained brands including Collider and Polygon.
Quick answers
How much is Valnet paying to settle the lawsuit?
Valnet agreed to a $2 million settlement in the class action brought by former freelancer Daniel Quintiliano.
Who is covered by the Valnet settlement?
Contractors who wrote or edited articles and video content for Valnet websites between December 2019 and August 2026 and who gave a California home address.
When will payments be made?
The settlement has preliminary approval and is scheduled for final approval in February, with payments made afterward.