Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Tennessee

debt?

I work at a hospital as a nurse. I am considered an independent contractor and am not a full time employee with benefits. I was recently called into the office of my ''boss'' and told that I was overpaid last year and owe the hospital $19,000. Because of the way the check is typed it is very hard to understand. I did realize I was geting money above my hourly rate, but it was not on every check and seemed to be related to when I worked more time than what my contract stated. I had talked with my mother (who is a nurse at another hospital) about this (when it started) and about a week later she told me that she happened to speak with the daughter of one of her patients. This daugher worked in personnel or human resources at my hospital and she stated that the position I had got paid a bonus because of the hours worked. I didn't think anything else about it. About 8 months ago the bonus stopped. Once again, I didn't think anythng else about it because the hospital was undergoing budget tightening. Can they legally make me pay back this money?


Asked on 7/27/05, 9:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Dr. Michael A. S. Guth Tennessee Attorney at Law Assists Pro Se (without a lawyer) Parties

Re: debt?

Nineteen thousand is a pretty hefty bonus for a junior nurse. Are you a junior nurse or senior nurse? In all likelihood, the hospital will try to file suit against you to collect repayment, but you can fight the suit and say their own negligence resulted in you relying on this money as normal payment. The hearsay evidence about what people told you outside of court will not be admissible, unless they appear as witnesses in court on your behalf. I help parties represent themselves in court without an attorney. See http://riskmgmt.biz/prose.htm

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Answered on 7/27/05, 10:04 pm


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