UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - 89 current and former employees of Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare are suing the healthcare provider, claiming the healthcare organization's payroll system automatically and repeatedly deducted 30 minutes for lunch periods that the busy healthcare workers never took.

Attorneys with the Rochester law firm that is representing the employees say that, once you include the interest that's allowed by law, the damages could add up.

"A total for the lawsuit is very hard to estimate but based on the number of employees and based on our investigation so far we believe that the damages will result into the millions of dollars for the hospital to owe these employees," says attorney Patrick Solomon of the firm Dolin, Thomas & Solomon.

Lawyers with the firm held a news conference this morning at the Hotel Utica. They say others who are interested in finding out if they can be included in the class action suit can contact the firm.

Officials with Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare say that they value the dedication of their staff and strive to meet their commitments to their employees, but cannot comment specifically on the lawsuit because they have not yet seen it.

Attorneys with Dolin, Thomas & Solomon say they filed the suit electronically this morning with U.S Federal Court for the Northern District of NY. They will serve Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare in the near future.