Two former employees filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in federal court Sunday against Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. The filing alleges that management failed to provide legally required advance notice before shutting down the facility, leaving more than 200 workers without adequate warning or severance pay.
Mass Layoffs Trigger WARN Act Claims
The complaint accuses Waterview Heights and affiliated companies of violating federal and state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification laws. These statutes demand advance written notice before a facility executes mass layoffs or closes its doors.
A New York WARN notice filed by the facility listed 216 affected workers out of a total staff of 244. Layoffs were scheduled to begin September 7, and the filing itself was dated August 14. Plaintiffs assert they received significantly less than the mandated 90 days of advance notice required under state law. Some received fewer than 30 days.
Sudden Terminations Leave Staff Empty-Handed
One plaintiff learned of the closure during an August 20 meeting. She never received an official termination letter before losing her job six days later.
Another employee spent approximately 20 years working at the Meriden Street facility in Charlotte. That worker reported receiving notice in late August prior to a September 10 termination date. Neither worker received severance pay, according to court documents.
Regulatory Collapse Precedes Facility Closure
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services terminated Waterview Heights’ Medicare provider agreement effective August 25.
In addition to the federal shutdown, state lawmakers noted that the nursing home failed to pay a $560,000 state fine.
Lawsuit Demands Back Pay and Restitution
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial alongside financial compensation for the affected personnel. Plaintiffs are asking the court to award back pay, the monetary value of lost benefits, and other appropriate relief for the displaced workers.