A former employee of a major health insurance company is taking legal action against her previous employer, alleging wrongful termination and retaliation for whistleblowing activities. Laverne Kerridge filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on February 23, 2026, accusing Emblem Health, Inc. of violating federal and state labor laws by failing to pay overtime wages to Grievance and Appeals Specialists.
Kerridge’s journey with Emblem began in 2007 when she joined as a Grievance and Appeals Specialist. Her dedication saw her rise through the ranks to become a supervisor by 2013. However, her career took a turn when she began raising concerns about the company’s failure to compensate her subordinates for overtime work. According to the complaint, Kerridge repeatedly reported these wage violations to her supervisor, Semone Morgan, but no corrective actions were taken by Emblem.
The issue gained further traction when Kerridge testified in a class-action lawsuit against Emblem concerning similar allegations. The lawsuit resulted in Emblem agreeing to settle for $3.795 million, yet Kerridge claims that the company continued its practice of denying rightful overtime pay. Her persistent complaints allegedly led to retaliatory actions from Emblem, culminating in her being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) as a pretext for termination.
Despite having an exemplary record over her 24-year tenure at Emblem, Kerridge was terminated on March 26, 2025. She contends that this was direct retaliation for her whistleblowing activities regarding wage violations—a claim supported by her consistent performance appraisals prior to raising these issues.
Kerridge’s complaint accuses Emblem of violating both the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New York Labor Law (NYLL). She seeks various forms of relief from the court including compensatory damages for economic harm and emotional distress caused by the alleged unlawful conduct. Additionally, she requests liquidated damages under FLSA and NYLL § 215, punitive damages under NYLL § 740 due to malicious retaliation, reinstatement of employment, and coverage of attorney fees.
Representing Kerridge is Crabill PLLC with lead counsel located at Forest Hills, New York. The case is presided over by judges associated with Case ID: 1:26-cv-01517.
Source: 126cv01517_Laverne_Kerridge_v_Emblem_Health_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York .pdf
