CHARLESTON — Health workers are suing Charleston Area Medical Center Inc., alleging violations of workers compensation acts that resulted in unpaid wages.
Thirty emergency room workers and phlebotomists - professionals skilled in drawing blood - filed a complaint on Feb. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia against the hospital, alleging that the facility willfully violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Plaintiffs, including Jamie Jarrell, Michelle Brown and Brandy Riggs, allege in the complaint that they frequently worked more than 40 hours each week, but they were never paid wages for hours actually worked in excess of 40 per week. The plaintiffs hold the hospital responsible because the defendant allegedly deducted 30 minutes from their pay for breaks that they were denied.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against the defendant for an amount equal to loss of all wages, plus interest, liquidated damages, attorney fees and costs and other relief. They are represented by J. Michael Ranson and Cynthia M. Ranson of Ranson Law Offices in Charleston and G. Patrick Jacobs of Jacobs Law Office in Charleston.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Case number 2:17-cv-01371