Memorial Health employment contract breach $10M class action settlement

Memorial Health has agreed to a $10 million settlement to end a class action lawsuit claiming it breached an agreement to provide certain severance payments to physicians and cardiologists in its employment.

The settlement benefits dozens of physicians who were employed by MPPG Inc., Memorial Cardiovascular Consultants and Memorial Savannah Cardiology Inc. prior to 2018, plus a subclass of cardiologists. Those who are included in the settlement will have received a notice. 

The lawsuit alleged Memorial Health breached certain employment contracts when it sold its assets to Savannah Health Services LLC, a subsidiary of HCA Healthcare (HCA) in 2018. 

Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged Memorial Health breached an employment agreement to provide certain severance/notice payments to physicians at Memorial. The lawsuit sought to recover those severance/notice payments on behalf of the employed physicians.

Since becoming part of HCA Healthcare in 2018, Memorial Health has continued to provide healthcare to more than 35 counties across southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. 

Memorial Health has agreed to pay $10 million dollars to settle the lawsuit, which will be paid into the settlement fund and then distributed to each eligible class member based on his or her share of the funds in accordance with a distribution plan.

The distribution plan considers certain factors, including the amount that each class member would have been paid pursuant to the severance/notice calculation in his or her contract, whether that class member had already filed suit and other risks associated with litigating the class members’ claims. 

The amount payable to each class member will vary based on these factors, court filings say. Lawyers for the plaintiffs have hired a damages expert who will calculate the damages for each class member. 

Class members do not need to do anything to receive a payment. If the settlement is approved, and if the class member is entitled to receive money, a check will be mailed to them at the address to which the notice was sent.

The deadline to opt out of or object to the Memorial Health settlement is Sept. 28, 2023.

A final approval hearing will take place Nov. 15, 2023.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits dozens of physicians who were employed by MPPG Inc., Memorial Cardiovascular Consultants and Memorial Savannah Cardiology Inc. prior to 2018, plus a subclass of cardiologists. Those who are included in the settlement will have received a notice. 

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

N/A

Objection Deadline

09/28/2023

Case Name

Nicole M. Cohen MD, et al. v. SMHA Healthcare Inc. F/K/A Memorial Health Inc., et al., Case No. STCV1801613, in the State Court of Chatham County for the State of Georgia

Final Hearing

11/15/2023

Settlement Website

MPPGClassAction.com

Claims Administrator

Cohen Class Action Settlement
c/o Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 23698
Jacksonville FL 32241

Class Counsel

Jeffrey R Harris
Jed Manton
Yvonne S Godfrey
HARRIS LOWRY MANTON LLP 

Michael B Terry
Jason J Carter
Patrick C Fagan
Naveen Ramachandrappa
Jane D Vincent
Allen E Page
BONDURANT MIXSON & ELMORE LLP

Defense Counsel

N/A