News

Walden Haran Williams LLP partner Jake Gardener, alongside co-counsel at Pollock Cohen LLP, has secured a major victory on behalf of more than 250,000 retired New York City workers.

The City of New York and EmblemHealth have agreed to a $53 million settlement resolving a class action challenging co-pays unlawfully charged to retirees enrolled in the GHI Senior Care Plan. The settlement will refund 100% of the co-pays charged between January 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023. The City and EmblemHealth have also agreed not to increase the existing $15 Senior Care co-pays through at least December 31, 2027.

The settlement follows nearly four years of litigation, during which the lawsuit also secured a temporary injunction halting the co-pays for two years, saving retirees an estimated additional $106 million.

“Retired City workers have proven once again that they will fight relentlessly, and successfully, to protect their healthcare rights, which have been under constant attack for the past five years,” said Jake.