Baptist Memorial Health Care $420,566 FCRA Settlement

Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation has agreed to pay $420,566 to settle a class action lawsuit for alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This settlement aims to resolve claims that the company obtained and used consumer reports for employment purposes without making the required disclosures and authorizations, and failed to provide pre-adverse action notices. This article provides a comprehensive overview of who can benefit from the settlement, the awards available, and how to claim them.

Can I Claim an Award?

The settlement benefits two groups of individuals: the Disclosure and Authorization Class and the Pre-Adverse Action Subclass.

The Disclosure and Authorization Class consists of approximately 14,041 members. These are individuals who applied for a position with Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation and had a consumer report procured about them between June 7, 2019, and August 8, 2022.

The Pre-Adverse Action Subclass is a subset of the Disclosure and Authorization Class. This subclass includes approximately 111 individuals who were declined employment by Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, are marked in the company's system as 'Failed Background Report,' 'Null,' or 'Other,' and for whom the company has been unable to confirm receipt of a pre-adverse action notice.

What Can Class Members Claim?

• Disclosure and Authorization Class: Expected to receive around $26, minus fees and costs.
• Pre-Adverse Action Subclass: Expected to receive around $500, minus fees and costs.

How to Claim Your Award

To claim your award, you can file a claim online by providing your "Notice ID" and PIN. Alternatively, you can return the claim form attached to the notice sent to you by mail. The form should be returned to:

Gregory Stewart v. Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation,

c/o Settlement Administrator,

P.O. Box 23459,

Jacksonville, FL 32241

You can also email the form to info@stewartvbaptistmhcsettlement.com.

How Do I Get Paid?

Class members who submit a valid claim form will receive their payment by check. The checks will be mailed to the address provided on the claim form.

$420,566 Settlement Fund Breakdown

The total settlement amount is $420,566. This amount will be used to pay the class members, attorney's fees, settlement administration costs, and a general release payment to the plaintiff.

Attorney's fees will not exceed 33.33% of the total settlement amount, plus reimbursement of incurred costs. The settlement administrator will receive approximately $25,000 for their services. The named plaintiff, Gregory Stewart, will receive $5,000 for his general release of claims and agreement not to seek future employment with Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation.

Important Dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: July 29, 2024
• Final Approval Hearing: September 19, 2024

Why is There a Class Action Settlement?

The class action settlement was reached to resolve allegations that Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation violated the FCRA by obtaining and using consumer reports for employment purposes without making the required disclosures and authorizations, and failing to provide pre-adverse action notices. By settling, the company avoids the uncertainties and expenses of continuing the litigation.

The next steps include the final approval hearing, where the court will determine whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. If approved, the settlement funds will be distributed to the class members who submitted valid claims.

For more information, contact the Settlement Agent at (800) 721-3646, via email at info@stewartvbaptistmhcsettlement.com, or visit the Important Court Documents section of the official settlement website.