Fresno Hospital Faces Class Action Over Overtime, Break Violations

Rachel Lerma filed a complaint against Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno County Superior Court on March 11. The Fresno hospital system is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging unpaid overtime, missed breaks and other labor violations, and the case could expand to include more employees if certified.

Lerma accuses the hospital of failing to pay overtime, provide meal and rest break premiums when an employee misses a required break because of work, reimburse necessary business expenses, and pay wages owed upon termination. The allegations also include workers not being allowed to take legally required breaks and the hospital not accurately tabulating total hours worked and wages earned on wage statements. The lawsuit does not specify Lerma's role at the hospital, describing her only as an hourly, nonexempt employee.

"Because of defendants' unlawful conduct, plaintiff and the class have been and continue to be systematically deprived of their benefits," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status, which would expand the number of plaintiffs as well as the scope and complexity of the case. The proposed class would include nonexempt employees who worked for CRMC during the previous four years "who provide patient care services." That four-year window stretches back to March 2022. According to Lerma's attorneys, "members of the class are so numerous that their individual joinder is impracticable."

The lawsuit describes the labor violations generally, without specific details of Lerma's damages. It seeks unpaid wages, penalties and attorneys' fees. Jason Hatcher, an attorney with Rancho Cucamonga-based The Myers Law Group representing Lerma, did not respond to a request for comment.

CRMC is a 685-bed regional hospital and trauma center in Fresno and the largest employer in the Central Valley, with Community Health System tracing its roots to 1897 and growing into the fifth-largest healthcare system in California. The scale of the institution makes the scope of the proposed class potentially significant: any hourly, nonexempt patient care worker employed there over a four-year span could ultimately be included.

The hospital's parent company offered no substantive response to the allegations. "We have not been served with this lawsuit and cannot comment on pending litigation," said Michelle Von Tersch, spokesperson for Community Health System.

A case management conference is scheduled before Judge Lisa Gamoian on Sept. 29. That hearing will be an early procedural step in what could become a complex, multi-plaintiff case if Lerma's attorneys persuade the court to certify the class.