Whitehall Jewellers, Inc.

A settlement has been reached and is pending court approval in the class action lawsuit filed against Whitehall Jewellers, Inc. on behalf of some current and former managers of the company. The suit alleged that the managers were not paid for overtime wages that they were eligible for under California law and, although the company denies any wrongdoing, under the terms of settlement, the managers will receive $620,000 for wages that should have been paid from the period of July 25, 1998 to January 31, 2003. (May-01-03) [PRESS RELEASE]