Provost Umphrey Law Firm is filing a second lawsuit on behalf of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physicians assistants (PAs) employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The lawsuit seeks overtime pay for VA nurses who say the VA has required them to perform extensive patient-related work after hours for no pay in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
$160M Settlement in First VA Nurses’ Overtime Class-Action Lawsuit
In the first VA nurses’ overtime class action, Provost Umphrey secured $160 million settlement of overtime claims on behalf of nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The lawsuit, which was filed on December 28, 2012, alleged that 3,200 class members were induced to work overtime to update patients’ electronic health records and monitor and respond to patient-related notifications in the VA’s Computerized Patient Record System for which they were not paid. The settlement, which is one of the largest ever reached in an overtime case involving federal employees, provides an average recovery of $50,000 to class members.
Noting that the litigation was complex, and the risk of non-recovery substantial, the court found that Provost Umphrey attorneys, Guy Fisher and Mike Hamilton, “vigorously prosecuted this case over a span of almost nine years and have achieved an excellent result for the class in the face of an equally vigorous defense mounted by the Department of Justice.”
Employment at the VA
Currently, the VA employs more than 80,000 nurses in more than 1,400 medical centers and outpatient clinics located in all 50 states, making it the largest employer of nurses in the U.S.
An Influx of Patients
The United States was in a state of war for two decades. This resulted in more veterans needing medical attention. Veterans who served in Vietnam are also at an age where they need more specific and detailed medical care. The large number of patients flowing into the VA system has resulted in overworked and underpaid medical caregivers. Many nurses, and other medical professionals, complete computer work after hours in order to avoid scrutiny from VA management, including being written up for poor time management.
Do you have a claim?
If you or a loved one has worked, or is working, for the VA and you feel that you have not been compensated properly, please contact Provost Umphrey Law Firm at 800-289-0101 for a FREE consultation.