Sept 17 (Reuters) - A California judge has approved Walt

Disney's ( DIS ) $233 million settlement with 51,478 Disneyland

employees who said the entertainment company denied them a

living wage.

The class-action settlement won final approval on Tuesday by

Judge William Claster of the Orange County Superior Court, who

called the accord fair, reasonable, adequate and consistent with

public policy.

About $179.6 million will go to class members, according to

court papers.

Another $17.5 million represents a civil penalty being paid

to the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, while

$35 million will go to the employees' lawyers. Remaining sums

will cover other costs.

The lawsuit began in December 2019, after Disney ( DIS ) claimed it

was exempt from a minimum wage law approved a year earlier by

voters in Anaheim, where Disneyland is located.

Known as Measure L, that law required businesses receiving

tax subsidies from the city to pay resort workers at least $15

an hour in 2019, and increasing amounts in subsequent years.

A Disney ( DIS ) spokeswoman said nearly 96% of the Burbank,

California-based company's employees, which it refers to as cast

members, now earn more than $22 an hour, above the current

$20.42 minimum under Measure L.

California's minimum wage is $16.50 an hour.

"Disney ( DIS ) cares deeply about our cast members," the

spokeswoman said on Wednesday. "We are proud to already offer

some of the most competitive wages and comprehensive employee

benefits in our industry."

The case is Grace et al v Walt Disney Co ( DIS ) et al, California

Superior Court, Orange County, No. 30-2019-01116850.