The board’s decision comes after a federal judge ruled in March that Iowa City-based University of Iowa hospitals owed damages for the delayed pay. That ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed in August 2019 by two nurses and a physical therapist.
Lawyers for the employees filed a motion Oct. 14 asking the judge to approve the settlement, according to the report. The lawyers said their side could have won $64 million, but they believed a higher court could have overturned a significant portion of the workers’ claim, which would have reduced the amount owed to $11 million.
A University of Iowa spokesperson told the news outlet it is “pleased to reach a final resolution that is in the best interest of University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics employees, who are critical to our ability to deliver excellent patient care for all Iowans.”
Under the proposed settlement, 11,000 workers will receive a share of $11.6 million, according to the report. Six employees who led the lawsuit will each receive $10,000, and the lawyers will receive about $3.4 million.
