BANGOR, Maine — The First District Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court decision that a Maine hospital violated the state's equal pay law by paying a female psychologist barely half the wage of her male colleagues.
Clare Mundell, a licensed clinical psychologist for Northern Light Acadia Hospital, filed the lawsuit after she learned her hourly rate of $50 was less than the $90 to $95 per hour made by men in her department.
In February 2022, Maine District Judge Lance Walker ruled that Acadia Hospital violated the Maine Equal Pay Law and must pay back wages and damages to Mundell.
On appeal, Acadia argued that Judge Walker's ruling was incorrect because Acadia's intent to discriminate was not established and claimed a reasonable-factor-other-than-sex defense to explain the difference in pay. But the appellate court ruled the law does not impose an intent requirement on a plaintiff or permit a defendant to use a reason such as market factors for the pay disparity.
"I have heard from a lot of people already even before the decision came down, that have used the initial ruling in their workplace to make sure they were paid equally, so that feels good," Mundell explained.
Acadia Hospital was ordered to pay Mundell, who is now in private practice, three times her back pay.
Northern Light Health, which operates Acadia, told NEWS CENTER Maine it has no comment.