Kaiser Healthcare Race Discrimination $11.5M Class Action Settlement

UPDATES:

• The Court granted final approval to this class action settlement March 10, 2022.
• Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

• The final approval hearing originally set for Feb. 9, 2022, has been taken off calendar pending the filing of supplemental materials, which must be completed by March 9, 2022. 

Kaiser Healthcare agreed to pay over $11.5 million as part of a settlement resolving claims it discriminated against its employees of color.

The settlement benefits current and former Black or African-American California employees who worked for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, The Permanente Medical Group Inc., or Southern California Permanente Medical Group in a covered position between Jan. 1, 2015, and March 31, 2021. 

Covered positions include full time, occupied, exempt or non-exempt, non-union, non-clinical, director-level or below administrative support or consulting services jobs. Intern or student temporary positions in these job families do not qualify under the settlement, even if all other criteria are met.

Various Kaiser entities allegedly discriminated against their Black employees by denying them equal pay, bonuses, other compensation, and promotions. Employees of color were allegedly discriminated against with demotions and other disciplinary actions at a higher rate than their white counterparts.

Kaiser denies any wrongdoing but agreed to a settlement of $11,504,759 after two years of negotiations.

The Kaiser discrimination includes both monetary and non-monetary relief. Non-monetary relief includes:

• A validated job analysis completed by an independent expert
• An annual equity review of base pay, incentive pay, and compensation increases by an independent expert
• A review of leadership development and diversity programs by an independent HR expert
• Changes based on expert reviews
• And more

Although only current employees will benefit from the non-monetary relief, both current and former employees can receive payments from the Kaiser Healthcare settlement. Cash payments from the settlement are calculated based on Class Member salaries, exemption status, and number of weeks worked during the Class Period. This information is based on Kaiser’s payroll records.

Higher payments are available to Class Members who allege they were denied a promotion based on their race. In order to receive a 10 percent payment enhancement based on denied promotions, claimants need to file an enhanced claim form.

Class Members can call the settlement administrator for an estimated payment amount. Any settlement benefits received will not modify employee benefit plans of current employees.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Jan. 22, 2022. The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2022. 

Base payments will be credited automatically to Class Members without them needing to file a claim form. 

In order to recover increased payments from the Kaiser Healthcare discrimination class action settlement, Class Members must file an enhanced claim form by Jan. 22, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

Current and former Black or African-American California employees who worked for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, The Permanente Medical Group Inc., or Southern California Permanente Medical Group in a covered position between Jan. 1, 2015, and March 31, 2021. 

Covered positions include full time, occupied, exempt or non-exempt, non-union, non-clinical, director-level or below administrative support or consulting services jobs. Intern or student temporary positions in these job families do not qualify under the settlement, even if all other criteria are met.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

No proof of purchase applicable.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

01/22/2022

Case Name

Stewart, et al. v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., et al., Case No. CGC-21-590966 in the Superior Court of the State of California, San Francisco County

Final Hearing

TBD

Settlement Website

KaiserSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Stewart v. Kaiser Permanente Settlement Administrator
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91344
Seattle, WA 98111
844-975-1785

Class Counsel

Felicia Medina
Jennifer Orthwein
Kevin Love Hubbard
Shauna Madison
MEDINA ORTHWEIN LLP

Kelly M. Dermody
Jallé Dafa
LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN LLP

Defense Counsel

Heather Morgan
GBG LLP