Temp Nurses Secure $2.75 Million Settlement in Overtime Case

A nursing staffing company will pay $2.75 million under a class and collective action settlement that won final approval from a federal court in California.

Over 2,750 nurses and technicians nationwide alleged that Fastaff LLC didn’t count housing stipends in overtime wage calculations, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and California law.

Class and collective members will split the $1.7 million of the total settlement fund, after assorted deductions. Each member will get an estimated $624 payout.

Stephanie Dalchau and Michael Goodwin, the lead plaintiffs, will each get $10,000 service awards. Class counsel will receive about $916,600 in attorneys’ fees and roughly $27,700 in reimbursed litigation costs.

The hybrid settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, Judge William H. Orrick of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said Oct. 18. Proper notice was issued to putative class members, Orrick said, and there were no objections to the settlement terms.

Judge Orrick granted preliminary settlement approval May 12.

Hayes Pawlenko LLP represents Dalchau, Goodwin, and the class.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP represents Fastaff and its parent company, U.S. Nursing Co.

The case is Dalchau et al v. Fastaff, LLC, N.D. Cal., No. 3:17-cv-01584, 10/18/19.