Chestnut Hill Hospital and Tower Health Settlement

If you applied for employment at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between October 1, 2017, and September 30, 2020, you may be eligible to claim $400 from a class action settlement.

Chestnut Hill Hospital, LLC, and Tower Health have agreed to pay $650,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for allegedly violating the Philadelphia Fair Criminal Records Screening Standards Ordinance, commonly known as the 'Ban the Box' law.

Who can file a claim?

To be eligible for this settlement, you must meet the following criteria:

• You applied for employment with Chestnut Hill Hospital, LLC, during the period from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2020.
• Your online employment application included the question, "Have you been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor in the last 7 years?"

How much can class members get?

Class members who submit a valid claim by the deadline will receive a cash payment of $400.

How to claim an award

To claim your award, you must submit a claim form by February 3, 2025. You can file a claim online or download a PDF claim form - FINAL_v4 (ALB Edits)2.pdf) to mail it. If mailing, send your completed form to:

Tower Health Class Action Settlement

c/o Settlement Administrator

1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Ensure your claim form is postmarked by the deadline to be eligible for the settlement payment.

Payment methods

• PayPal
• Venmo
• Zelle
• Virtual Prepaid Card
• Physical Check

$650K Settlement fund

The settlement fund of $650,000 will cover various expenses:

• $400 payments to eligible class members who file a valid claim
• Up to $10,000 for a service award to the class representative
• $650,000 for attorneys' fees and costs

Important dates

• Deadline to File a Claim: February 3, 2025
• Exclusion Deadline: December 6, 2024
• Fairness Hearing: February 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom

When is the Pugh v. CHHS Hospital Company payout date?

The court will hold a Fairness Hearing on February 25, 2025, to determine whether to grant final approval of the settlement. If approved, payments will be distributed 30 days thereafter.

Why was there a class action settlement?

The lawsuit alleged that Chestnut Hill Hospital, LLC, and Tower Health violated the Philadelphia Ban the Box law by asking about criminal convictions on their job applications. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the costs and uncertainties of litigation.