MARTINS FERRY, Ohio — Over 200 former employees of the now-closed East Ohio Regional Hospital have filed a class-action lawsuit against the facility’s owner, alleging multiple violations related to its abrupt closure. This group comprises more than half of the hospital’s workforce prior to its shutdown.
The lawsuit, driven by attorneys from Gold, Khourey & Turak in Moundsville and Barkan Meizlish DeRose Cox based in Columbus, claims the hospital failed to provide the required 60-day notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, along with withholding wages owed to employees.
The legal teams are currently sifting through the details of the case which, they note, presents “lots of moving pieces.” A response from the hospital is expected by today, but representatives of the plaintiffs had not received any communication from the hospital’s administration or its legal team as of Friday.
“We have received no response,” said Michelle Marinacci, an attorney from the Moundsville firm. “No attorney or representative has reached out to us from the defendant’s side.”
Bob DeRose, co-counsel from Columbus, expressed skepticism that the hospital would choose to remain silent, suggesting it could lead to further complications.
In the past week, attorneys held two town hall-style meetings to engage with former employees and provide updates on the lawsuit. During these sessions, additional grievances emerged, including claims that the hospital deducted health insurance premiums from employee wages without providing corresponding coverage. Furthermore, some employees reported being denied lunch breaks despite being forced to work during those hours.
Marinacci conveyed the sentiment of frustration among former workers who feel betrayed after dedicating years to the hospital and the community it served. “They devoted their lives to this facility and its patients and are now left feeling taken advantage of. They don’t know when they will receive their pay,” she remarked.
East Ohio Regional Hospital first closed in 2019 under previous owner Alecto Healthcare Services, which also shuttered the Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, now demolished. Dr. John Johnson purchased EORH in the spring of 2020 and reopened it in February 2021, offering hope that it would serve the local community more sustainably. However, the facility shut down once again on March 20 of this year.
Marinacci emphasized the closure’s far-reaching impact, not just on employees but also on the local economy and healthcare landscape. The rapid mobilization of former workers into the lawsuit stands out as notable, with more than 200 individuals joining before the hospital formally responds.
“Having over half of the workforce sign on to the lawsuit at this early stage is quite remarkable,” said DeRose. “It reflects a strong desire among employees to seek answers.”
Marinacci echoed this observation, noting that such an early outpouring of support is not typical in cases of this nature.
This situation underscores the potential ramifications of hospital closures in community health and employee welfare.
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