Unite Here, a national labor union based in New York, has agreed to issue a formal apology and a $6 million settlement to Sacramento-based Sutter Health after six years of accusing the health system of using dirty linens in its maternity wards, according to a Sacramento Bee news report.
Unite Here represented workers at laundry services company Angelica Textile Services, which was contracted to clean sheets and towels for Sutter Health hospitals. In 2005, Unite Here delivered approximately 11,000 postcards to Northern California residents that alleged the health system's linens were not always properly cleaned of feces, blood and other pathogens, according to the news report.
At the time of the postcard deliveries, Angelica was involved in a labor dispute with Sutter Health. Upon the postcard deliveries, the health system filed a defamation lawsuit against Unite Here. In 2008, a Placer Superior Court jury awarded Sutter Health $17.2 million in compensatory damages, though that was ruling was later thrown out by an appellate court in 2010. The case was forced to head back to Placer Superior Court, and a mediation session between Sutter and Unite Here led to the current settlement.
Unite Here President John Wilhelm issued a letter of apology, stating the postcards were "offensive and in poor taste" and issued under different leadership, according to the news report.
Read the news report about Sutter Health's settlement with Unite Here.
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Unite Here represented workers at laundry services company Angelica Textile Services, which was contracted to clean sheets and towels for Sutter Health hospitals. In 2005, Unite Here delivered approximately 11,000 postcards to Northern California residents that alleged the health system's linens were not always properly cleaned of feces, blood and other pathogens, according to the news report.
At the time of the postcard deliveries, Angelica was involved in a labor dispute with Sutter Health. Upon the postcard deliveries, the health system filed a defamation lawsuit against Unite Here. In 2008, a Placer Superior Court jury awarded Sutter Health $17.2 million in compensatory damages, though that was ruling was later thrown out by an appellate court in 2010. The case was forced to head back to Placer Superior Court, and a mediation session between Sutter and Unite Here led to the current settlement.
Unite Here President John Wilhelm issued a letter of apology, stating the postcards were "offensive and in poor taste" and issued under different leadership, according to the news report.
Read the news report about Sutter Health's settlement with Unite Here.
Related Articles on Hospital Lawsuits:
Alabama's Trinity Medical Center to Build New Medical Clinic to Settle Lawsuit
Cleveland Clinic Makes Agreement With Huron Hospital Community, But Cleveland Sues
Florida's Lee Memorial Health System Fights Workers' Compensation Lawsuits