Intended Bias Unneeded for Maine Equal Pay Law, Court Says (1)

A female doctor alleging gender-based pay discrimination claims against a hospital in Maine under the state’s Equal Pay Law need not prove discriminatory intent in order to prevail, a split federal appeals court ruled.

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit 2-1 late Thursday affirmed a partial summary judgment ruling against Acadia Hospital Corp., which was accused of unfairly paying male psychologists more than women despite performing equal work.

The hospital is now liable for more than $180,000 in damages, wrote Judge Kermit Lipez, who was joined by Judge Lara Montecalvo. The case now returns to the ...