CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest Catholic health systems in the U.S., is facing a class action lawsuit.
In the complaint, named plaintiff, Debra Sullivan, of Nebraska, alleges that Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health violated labor laws by allegedly shorting workers overtime pay and other compensation.
The lawsuit seeks to recover unpaid compensation and overtime compensation, as well as liquidated damages, penalties, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs, declaratory and injunctive relief for Sullivan and other similarly situated current and former employees of CommonSpirit Health.
The case was filed March 15 in Chicago federal court, accusing the company of violations of federal and state wage and labor laws.
The plaintiffs seek to expand the action to include potentially thousands of people who worked for CommonSpirit across the country in the past four years.
CommonSpirit Health was created through a merger between Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health in 2019. It operates across 21 states with approximately 175,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. The company operates 140 hospitals and more than 2,200 care centers serving sites across 24 states.
Plaintiffs are represented in the action by attorneys Douglas M. Werman and Maureen A. Salas, of Werman Salas P.C., of Chicago; Seth R. Lesser, Christopher M. Timmel and Sarah Sears, of Klafter Lesser LLP, of Rye Brook, New York; and Joseph F. Scott, Ryan A. Winters and Kevin M. McDermott II, of Scott & Winters Law Firm, of Cleveland and Strongsville, Ohio.