Martins Ferry-based East Ohio Regional Hospital is refuting allegations made in a class-action lawsuit filed by former employees in April, according to The Intelligencer.
Former employees filed the lawsuit against the now-closed hospital and its owner and CEO, John Johnson, MD, following the hospital’s March layoff announcement and subsequent closure. The closure came as workers reported having not received their most recent paychecks.
The lawsuit alleges the hospital violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by not paying employees their final paychecks and by closing without giving employees the federally required 60-day notice, according to an April 7 news release from the law firm Gold, Khourey & Turak that was shared with Becker’s. Employees are represented by two partnering law firms, Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox and Gold, Khourey & Turak.
In their responses, the hospital and Dr. Johnson denied the allegations of lack of WARN notice and not paying employees their owed pay, among other allegations, according to The Intelligencer.
The newspaper reported that several former employees also alleged lunch hours were deducted from their pay even when they worked through them, among other allegations related to paychecks.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid wages, penalties for failing to follow the WARN Act and additional damages for labor law violations.
