Georgia Governor Candidate Rick Jackson's Company Settles Immigrant Nurses' Lawsuit Amid Scrutiny
Rick Jackson, a Republican candidate for governor of Georgia, is facing scrutiny after his company, Avant Healthcare Professionals, settled a lawsuit filed by immigrant nurses. Avant, part of Jackson Healthcare business group, recruits nurses from other countries to work in U.S. hospitals. The lawsuit, filed by Latoya Lewis and Lucinda Byron in 2023, alleged that Avant promised better living and working conditions but paid them less than directly hired professionals. The nurses claimed they were bound by multiyear contracts and, upon attempting to resign, were threatened with reports to Immigration and Customs Enforcement while being demanded to pay substantial compensation. The plaintiffs' lawyers argued these practices violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. A federal judge denied a motion to dismiss human trafficking allegations, and the case was transferred to a Florida state court. Avant denied wrongdoing, but on June 22, after Jackson's gubernatorial nominati...