Geisinger, Evangelical $28.5M Worker Antitrust Settlement

Employees who worked as health care workers at Geisinger System Services Inc. or Evangelical Community Hospital facilities in Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour, Lycoming or Columbia counties in Pennsylvania between Jan. 1, 2014, and Aug. 5, 2020, may be eligible to claim $250 or more from a class action settlement.

Geisinger System Services Inc. and Evangelical Community Hospital agreed to pay $28,500,000 to settle a class action lawsuit for alleged antitrust violations. The lawsuit claimed Geisinger and Evangelical agreed not to recruit each other’s health care workers, which allegedly reduced competition, limited job mobility and suppressed employee compensation.

Who are the class members?

Class members must meet all of the following criteria:

• They worked as a health care worker at Geisinger or Evangelical facilities in Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour, Lycoming or Columbia counties in Pennsylvania. Eligible health care workers include:
• Nurses
• Physicians
• Advanced practitioners
• Medical support personnel
• Health technicians
• Therapists
• Health care managers
• Other professionals who contribute to the health care system

• Their employment occurred at any point between Jan. 1, 2014, and Aug. 5, 2020.

Those who received a notice by mail or email are automatically included in the settlement class. However, even if an individual did not receive a notice, they may still be eligible if they meet the criteria above.

How much can class members receive?

Each eligible class member will receive a minimum payment of $250.

In addition, after deductions for attorneys’ fees, expenses, administration costs, taxes and service awards, class members may receive a proportional (pro rata) share of the remaining settlement fund. Each person's payment is based on their total compensation from Geisinger and/or Evangelical during the class period and the total number of valid claims. The calculation is: pro rata share = (individual compensation / total compensation of all claimants) × remaining fund.

If there are leftover funds after the initial distribution, the settlement administrator will redistribute them to eligible class members or donate to a court-approved nonprofit.

How to claim a settlement payout

Class members who received a notice by mail or email that included their total compensation amount do not need to submit a claim form to receive payment. However, they can use the unique identifier and PIN from their notice to verify their information online. If the notice instructs the class member to complete an IRS Form W-9, they must do so online to receive payment.

Class members who did not receive a notice but believe they are eligible must file a claim online or download, print, complete and the PDF claim form to mail to the settlement administrator. They can also request a claim form by emailing info@geisingerevansettlement.com or calling 877-543-4579. The claim deadline is Feb. 17, 2026.

Settlement administrator's mailing address: Geisinger Evangelical Settlement, c/o A.B. Data Ltd., P.O. Box 173108, Milwaukee, WI 53217

What proof or documentation is necessary to submit a claim?

• All claimants must provide the unique ID from their settlement notice to submit a claim. Online claimants must also provide the PIN from the same notice.
• Claimants who did not receive a notice must provide documentation to help the settlement administrator locate records. Acceptable proof includes:
• A copy of a Geisinger or Evangelical employee ID
• A copy of pay history
• At least one paycheck or pay stub from their time working at Geisinger or Evangelical

$28.5 million settlement fund breakdown

The settlement total is $28,500,000. This includes $19,000,000 from Geisinger and $9,500,000 from Evangelical. The total amount covers:

• Settlement administration costs: To be determined
• Attorneys' expenses: Up to $3,500,000
• Service awards to class representatives: Up to $10,000 each (up to $20,000 total)
• Tax and tax expenses: To be determined
• Payments to eligible class members: Remaining balance

Important dates

• Deadline to file a claim: Feb. 17, 2026
• Fairness hearing: March 16, 2026

When is the Geisinger and Evangelical health care workers settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval of the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged that Geisinger and Evangelical entered into an agreement to not recruit each other’s health care workers. The lawsuit claimed the purported agreement reduced competition, making it harder for employees to switch jobs and resulting in lower compensation than would have occurred in a fully competitive labor market.

Both defendants denied the allegations and admitted no liability but agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Claim form
3. Settlement FAQ