(OKEMOS) - A lawsuit has been filed against Sturgis Hospital.
The Michigan Nurses Association filed the lawsuit on July 10 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, saying Sturgis Hospital violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification or WARN Act.
The lawsuit claims that on or about June 16, 2026, Sturgis Hospital notified the Michigan Nurses Association in writing that they would cease all operations on June 19, and lay off all employees except for a small group of employees necessary to wrap up the Hospital's operations.
As a result of the June 19 closing, 50 or more employees, excluding part-time employees, lost their employment as well as their wages and benefits.
The lawsuit claims that the closing of Sturgis Hospital constituted a plant closing prior to the end of the 60-day period after they served written notice of the order, which is a violation. It also claims that Sturgis Hospital did not qualify for any of the exemptions to the 60-day notice requirement under the WARN Act.
Through the lawsuit, the Michigan Nurses Association is asking the Court to enter judgement against Sturgis Hospital, finding that they violated the WARN Act. They are also requiring Sturgis Hospital to pay each affected employee represented by the Nurses Association backpay and benefits for each day of the violation.