Air Medical Company Agrees to Pay a $78 Million Settlement in Overtime Suit

The judge in an overtime lawsuit case recently approved a $78 million settlement. The settlement between an air medical company and the medical helicopter company’s California flight crew employees resolves employment law claims of overtime pay violations and missed breaks.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Approves Overtime Class Action Settlement:

After three months of negotiations and legal maneuvering, Colorado based Air Methods Corporation agreed to settle an overtime class action lawsuit brought by their California flight crew. The Alameda County Superior Court Judge provided preliminary approval in July 2020.

The Settlement Between Air Methods and the Medical Helicopter California Flight Crew:

According to the settlement recently approved by the court, Air Methods out of Colorado plans to provide daily overtime to employees on their California medical flight crews effective June 28th. Daily overtime pay to medical flight crews based out of California and providing services for Air Methods should result in an approximate 20% increase in the salaries of the affected employees.  

The Defendant: Air Methods Providing Medical Transport Via Helicopter in Various States

Air Methods is a medical transport company. In fact, Air Methods is one of the country’s largest air medical transport companies and has operations in various states throughout the nation. Each Air Methods medical helicopter/aircraft is staffed with teams of nurses and paramedics. These services are often provided in remote areas (and to remote areas) throughout the US.  

Employment Law Violation Allegations Made in the Overtime Class Action:

According to the overtime class action documentation, Air Methods violated overtime pay law. The medical transport company is accused of refusing to pay daily overtime for California flight crews that worked more than eight hours in one workday. Air Methods California flight crew employees regularly worked 24 hour shifts according to plaintiffs in the case. Plaintiffs also claimed that Air Methods refused off-duty meal breaks or rest breaks for their medical flight crew members. According to the terms of the settlement agreement, plaintiffs in the case should receive an average of more than $100,000 each.

If you have questions about California labor law violations or how employment law protects you against labor law violations, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Experienced employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in any one of various law firm offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.