Val Verde Hospital Corporation
Case Information:
This is a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) case involving Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses at Val Verde Regional Medical Center (VVRMC) in Del Rio, Texas. The lawsuit claims that VVRMC automatically deducts thirty minutes for “meal periods” for nurses even though it requires that they remain on duty at all times and even though nurses are subject to, and in fact experience, frequent work interruptions during their unpaid meal periods. The lawsuit therefore contends that the nurses should have been paid for these “meal periods.”
The lawsuit requests lost wages, liquidated (double) damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees.
Status Updates
June 5, 2018 – Notice Delivered to Class Members
On June 5, 2018 we sent out the Court-approved Notice and Consent Form. Those who wish to join the suit must fill out the Consent Form by August 4, 2018.
May 15, 2018 – Court Certifies Class
On May 15, 2018, the Court conditionally certified a class of VVRMC’s current and former nurses with direct patient-care responsibilities, were subject to automatic meal deductions, and who were meaningfully interrupted during their meal breaks. The class includes nurses that worked for VVRMC as long ago as May 15, 2015. You can view the order here. The Court also directed Plaintiffs’ counsel to send all class members a court-approved notice regarding the lawsuit and a consent to join the lawsuit by U.S. Mail and e-mail. For any nurse that the VVRMC has not provided a personal e-mail address, the Court directed Plaintiffs’ counsel to send them a brief text message with a link to a website containing both the notice and the consent form.
VVRMC cannot retaliate against these individuals for joining the lawsuit. This means they cannot be fired, demoted, or have their pay cut because they participate in the case.
Eligible individuals who would like to participate in the lawsuit must fill out the “Consent to Join” form by August 4, 2018.
February 21, 2018 – Motion for Conditional Class Certification Filed
On February 21, 2018, Plaintiffs filed a motion for conditional class certification and for judicially supervised notice. In the motion, which you can read here, Plaintiffs asked the court to certify a class of nurses who were subject to an automatic meal deduction in the last three years. Plaintiffs also requested that the Court authorize Plaintiffs’ counsel to notify all potential class members of this lawsuit and of their ability to join the lawsuit.
