Published
July 20, 2026
This settlement resolves a class action alleging that Towne Nursing Staff and Towne Pediatric Homecare charged internationally recruited nurses an unreasonable amount for resigning early. If you entered the U.S. through their foreign nurse recruitment program and signed a contract between August 13, 2014 and May 26, 2026, you may be owed part of a $1.85 million fund — and can opt in for a larger payment, or opt out, by September 14, 2026.
What Is This Settlement About?
Towne Nursing Staff, Inc. and Towne Pediatric Homecare LLC agreed to a proposed class action settlement to resolve a lawsuit over their international nurse recruitment program. The case, Jemarie Cruz, et al. v. Towne Nursing Staff, Inc., et al., was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County. The named plaintiffs — six Filipino immigrant nurses — allege that the governing contracts required nurses who resigned before the end of their term without "Good Reason" to pay an amount the plaintiffs say was unreasonable for the alleged breach.Under the settlement, the companies will pay $1,850,000 to resolve the alleged damages of approximately 450 settlement class members who entered into contracts with the companies between August 13, 2014 and May 26, 2026. The companies dispute the allegations and deny any wrongdoing; they agreed to the settlement to avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of continued litigation. The New Jersey Superior Court preliminarily approved the settlement on June 18, 2026, and detailed notices were mailed on July 14, 2026. The settlement becomes final only if and after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.
Status
Claims Open
Preliminarily approved June 18, 2026 · final approval hearing October 7, 2026
Deadline
September 14, 2026
To submit an Opt-In Form, opt out, or object
Estimated Payout
Share of $1.85M
Based on early-resignation payments and hours worked · Opt-In adds ~15% to the hours-worked portion
Proof Required
Yes
Notice ID from your mailed or emailed notice, plus your last name, to log into the settlement dashboard and submit a form
Who Qualifies?
You are a settlement class member if you entered the United States through the foreign nurse recruitment program of Towne Nursing Staff, Inc. or Towne Pediatric Homecare LLC and entered into a contract with either company at any point between August 13, 2014 and May 26, 2026. The companies' records identify roughly 450 nurses in the class. If you received a postcard or email notice, those records already identify you as a class member.You are also eligible to join the FLSA Settlement Collective — and receive an additional payment — if you worked for either company for at least one day between August 13, 2014 and May 26, 2026. To be counted in the Collective, you must submit the FLSA Consent and Release (Opt-In) Form by the deadline.
How Much Can You Get?
The total settlement fund is $1,850,000, distributed after any court-approved amounts for attorneys' fees, costs, and service awards. Your individual payment is built from two parts. First, if the companies' records show you paid them money in connection with resigning before the end of your contract, you receive the amount you paid back. Second, you receive an additional amount for the other claims, calculated on how many hours you worked during the class period — the more hours, the larger the payment.If you are eligible for the FLSA Settlement Collective and submit the Opt-In Form, the hours-worked portion of your payment is increased by approximately 15%. If you do nothing, you still receive a payment (unless you opt out), just a lower one than you would with the Opt-In. Payments are made by check; class members who prefer a different payment method can elect one through the settlement dashboard.
Debt Forgiveness and Contract Changes
Beyond the cash fund, the settlement provides non-monetary relief. If your employment ended on or before December 3, 2025 and you currently owe the companies money in connection with resigning early, you will no longer be required to pay it. Current nurses also benefit from a new template employment contract with added protections: if you resign for "Good Reason" (as defined in the agreement), you owe nothing for leaving, and if you and the companies disagree about whether you had Good Reason, you can mediate the dispute at the companies' expense.For a nurse who resigns without Good Reason, the amount the companies can collect is capped at agreed-upon "Actual Direct Costs" — limited categories such as immigration and licensing fees, travel to and within the U.S., certain living and training expenses, and third-party recruitment support the nurse elected to receive. Those costs are prorated based on length of service, and nurses may enter a payment plan. The agreement also calls for clearer, itemized disclosure of benefit costs with opt-in/opt-out checkboxes for certain expenses. This page is a summary — the full Settlement Agreement and long-form notice control the exact terms.
Your Options and Deadlines
Class members have four choices. You can do nothing and stay in the class, which means you receive a payment and the other relief and give up the right to sue the companies over the issues in this case. You can submit an Opt-In Form to also join the FLSA Collective for roughly 15% more on the hours-worked portion (this releases your FLSA claims through May 26, 2026). You can opt out, which means you get no payment but keep the right to bring your own lawsuit — though current employees still receive the revised contract. Or you can object, telling the court why you disagree with the settlement while remaining in the class.The deadline to submit an Opt-In Form, opt out, or object is September 14, 2026. The settlement approval (fairness) hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County. You do not have to attend, but you may attend at your own expense and ask the court for permission to speak. Payments are only made if the court grants final approval.
How to Log In and Take Action
All of the forms — the Opt-In Form and payment-method election — are on the official settlement dashboard. To access them, log in with the Notice ID printed on the notice you received and your last name (omit any apostrophe). If you believe you are a class member but did not receive a notice or misplaced your Notice ID, use the contact page on the official settlement website to reach the settlement administrator, Atticus Administration LLC. Because filing an Opt-In or opt-out is gated on the Notice ID, keep your notice handy.The settlement check is accompanied by IRS tax forms. Neither the defendants nor class counsel provide tax advice through this settlement, so any questions about your tax obligations should go to the IRS or a qualified tax professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the Towne Nursing settlement?
Nurses who entered the U.S. through the foreign nurse recruitment program of Towne Nursing Staff, Inc. or Towne Pediatric Homecare LLC and who signed a contract with either company between August 13, 2014 and May 26, 2026. There are about 450 class members, identified from the companies' records. If you received a postcard or email notice, you are identified as a class member.
How much money can I get?
The companies agreed to pay $1,850,000 total. Your payment depends on whether and how much you paid to resign early, plus how many hours you worked — more hours means a larger payment. Joining the FLSA Collective with the Opt-In Form increases the hours-worked portion by about 15%.
Do I have to do anything to get paid?
If you do nothing and the court approves the settlement, you stay in the class and receive a payment. To get the larger FLSA Collective payment, submit the Opt-In Form by September 14, 2026. Log into the settlement dashboard with the Notice ID from your notice and your last name to submit a form.
What are the key deadlines?
September 14, 2026 is the deadline to submit an Opt-In Form, opt out, or object. The final approval hearing is set for October 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County. Payments are made only if and after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved.
Official Settlement Notice
Sources
• Official settlement website — Towne Nurse Settlement• Official long-form notice — Jemarie Cruz, et al. v. Towne Nursing Staff, Inc., et al.
• Court record — Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County, Civil Action No. MON-L-002021-26
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$1,850,000
Case Title
Jemarie Cruz, et al. v. Towne Nursing Staff, Inc., et al.
Case Number
MON-L-002021-26
Court
Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County
Final Approval Hearing
October 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Monmouth County, Freehold, NJ · Courtroom 226
Administrator
Atticus Administration LLC
Official Website
Towne Nurse Settlement.com
