Hutchinson ? Consolidated Manufacturing and employees that it laid off without notice in February have reached a settlement that could end a lawsuit filed against the company.

The proposed $240,000 agreement, which must be approved by a judge, is about half of what employees sought from the company after they were laid off with 30 minutes notice. The employees contended that federal law required the company to give them at least 60 days notice if it planned to lay off 100 or more employees.

The company laid off 120 employees and closed its plant in Hutchinson; 98 employees joined the lawsuit. The lawsuit sought pay and benefits for all employees for the 60 days.

Consolidated contended it was exempt from the federal law because of an exemption for a “faltering company.”

A hearing is scheduled Dec. 21 before a U.S. district judge in Wichita to consider the settlement agreement.