OHSU Lawsuit: A $750,000 Employee Settlement and a $15.5 Million CEO Suit
Questions about this case?
AI Legal Assistant · free · answers in seconds · general information, not legal advice
If you are searching for an OHSU lawsuit in 2026, there are three. A $750,000 class settlement pays about $4,000 each to roughly 134 union employees of color who were disciplined between 2019 and 2021 — no claim form, deadlines passed. The fired OHSU Health CEO is suing for $15.5 million. And OHSU sued Oregon Public Broadcasting over his records. As of October 2026 we found no patient data-breach or tracking-pixel class action against OHSU.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What Each OHSU Lawsuit Is About
The employee class action. Filed in 2021, it alleges that OHSU’s discipline policies and practices resulted in discriminatory discipline of AFSCME and ONA employees who identify as Black or as people of color. OHSU denies any wrongdoing. On January 20, 2026 OHSU announced it had decided to settle.
The former CEO’s suit. OHSU Health’s chief executive was placed on involuntary leave on March 10, 2026 and fired on April 3, 2026. His suit, reported by OPB on August 18, 2026, alleges wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation and discrimination, and seeks $15.5 million. OHSU says it “will vigorously defend against those allegations.”
OHSU v. OPB. After the Multnomah County District Attorney ordered OHSU on June 2, 2026 to release its investigation file on the fired executive, OHSU sued Oregon Public Broadcasting in June 2026, seeking only declaratory relief and no money.
Case Details
All three cases are in Oregon state court, not federal court. The settlement is in Gloria Richards and Depreesha Smith v. Oregon Health and Science University, Case No. 21CV47583, Multnomah County Circuit Court, assigned to Judge Christopher A. Ramras. The former CEO’s suit and OHSU’s public-records suit against OPB were both filed in Multnomah County; we could not locate their case numbers.
The official settlement site is ohsuclasssettlement.com, run by the administrator Simpluris.
Status as of October 2026
Former CEO’s suit: early stage. No ruling and no settlement. As of October 2, 2026 OHSU said it does not comment on pending litigation.
OHSU v. OPB: OPB reported on October 2, 2026 that OHSU changed course and disclosed the documents, while describing the litigation as ongoing.
Patients: no open OHSU settlement, fund or claim form exists for patients.
Who Is Affected
Only the employee settlement pays anyone. You are in that class if all four apply: you worked for OHSU; you were a member of AFSCME (Local 328) or the Oregon Nurses Association (CA 52); you identify as Black or as a person of color; and you received formal discipline short of discharge between September 10, 2019 and December 31, 2021. OHSU’s records identified approximately 134 class members.
If you got the notice by mail or email, you do not file a claim — payment is automatic. If you think you qualify but got no notice, contact the administrator at info@OHSUClassSettlement.com or (888) 369-3780.
Patients and the public are not part of any of these cases. The CEO’s suit is an individual employment case and OHSU v. OPB is a records dispute.
How Much the OHSU Settlement Pays
Nothing is payable to patients: there is no patient settlement, no fund and no claim form. The $15.5 million in the CEO’s suit is an amount demanded, not awarded. For a rough estimate on other cases, see our payout calculator.
OHSU Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
2021 — Employee Class Action Filed
Union employees of color sue in Multnomah County, alleging discriminatory discipline between September 10, 2019 and December 31, 2021.
- 2
January 20, 2026 — OHSU Announces Settlement
OHSU says it has decided to settle. The fund is $750,000, about $4,000 per class member, with no claim form.
- 3
April 3, 2026 — OHSU Health CEO Fired
Placed on involuntary leave March 10 and fired less than four months after being hired.
- 4
May 12, 2026 — Opt-Out Deadline; June 2026 — OHSU Sues OPB
The settlement’s opt-out and objection deadline passes. After a June 2 District Attorney order to release records, OHSU sues OPB.
- 5
June 23, 2026 — Final Approval Hearing
The court sets a fairness hearing for 1:30 p.m. in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Payments follow only after final approval and any appeals.
- 6
August 2026 — Former CEO Sues for $15.5 Million
The suit alleges wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation and discrimination. As of October 2026 it is pending with no ruling.
Three Things to Watch For
An OHSU lawsuit in the news, a health system with millions of patient records and a small, closed employee settlement make an easy cover story:
“OHSU patient settlement — claim your payment”
As of October 2026 there is no OHSU patient settlement, data-breach fund or claim portal. A site asking for your MyChart login, Social Security number or insurance ID to “join” is collecting data.
Fees to release your $4,000
The employee payment is automatic for notice recipients; no claim form is needed, so nobody should ask you to pay or sign up to receive it. The official settlement contacts are info@OHSUClassSettlement.com and (888) 369-3780.
“Join the CEO lawsuit” pitches
The $15.5 million suit is one person’s employment case. It is not a class action, and no one else can sign up to share in it.
OHSU Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
What is the OHSU lawsuit in the news right now?
Most coverage in 2026 concerns the fired OHSU Health CEO: his $15.5 million wrongful-termination suit and OHSU’s separate suit against OPB over his investigation file. The only case paying money is the $750,000 employee discipline settlement, Case No. 21CV47583.
Is there an OHSU data breach or tracking-pixel class action?
As of October 2026 we found no public record of one. OHSU’s best-known privacy case is regulatory: in 2016 it agreed to pay the HHS Office for Civil Rights $2.7 million over two 2013 breaches — a stolen laptop with 4,022 patients’ data and a cloud-storage incident involving 3,044 patients. That paid the government, not patients.
Who gets money from the OHSU settlement?
About 134 OHSU employees who were AFSCME or ONA members, identify as Black or as a person of color, and received formal discipline short of discharge between September 10, 2019 and December 31, 2021. Patients are not included.
How much is each OHSU settlement payment?
Approximately $4,000 per class member, per the official settlement site. The figure can shift slightly with the final class count, administration costs and the fees the court awards.
Do I need to file a claim?
No. If you received the notice by mail or email, payment is automatic. The opt-out and objection deadline was May 12, 2026, so those options are closed.
When will OHSU settlement payments be sent?
Only after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. The Final Approval Hearing was set for June 23, 2026. As of October 8, 2026 we could not confirm an approval order or a mailing date.
What is the former OHSU Health CEO suing for?
His Multnomah County suit alleges wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation and discrimination, and seeks $15.5 million. OHSU denies the claims and says his firing was not related to patient-safety concerns or bias of any kind.
Why did OHSU sue OPB?
To challenge a District Attorney order to release its investigation file on the fired executive. OHSU said it sought only declaratory relief, not money. OPB reported on October 2, 2026 that OHSU had since disclosed the documents.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
Related Consumer Brand Lawsuits
Open Class Action Settlements
Settlements currently accepting claims, with deadlines
Discrimination Settlement Amounts
What workplace discrimination cases typically resolve for
Class Action Payout Calculator
Estimate a per-person share from a settlement fund
Data Breach Settlement Calculator
Estimate what a health-data breach settlement could pay