Nevada's public hospital in Las Vegas has been ordered to pay nearly $820,000 in sanctions and attorney fees for failing to produce required information in a federal employee wages lawsuit.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen gave University Medical Center until Dec. 5 to pay the money in the civil case alleging that thousands of nurses and other employees routinely worked through 30-minute meal periods for no pay.
It's not clear if the hospital will appeal. Spokeswoman Danita Cohen declined to comment on what she termed pending litigation.
Leen's order, filed last week, faults the hospital for failing to preserve, collect and turn over documents to plaintiffs' attorneys and a court-appointed special master.
She put UMC on the hook for about $250,000 in sanctions and $570,000 in attorney fees and expenses.
