A jury awarded former Eastern Maine Medical Center employee David Ako-Annan a historic $3 million in damages in the case David Ako-Annan v. Eastern Maine Medical Center.
David, an African immigrant from Ghana, worked as a practice manager at a primary care medical office run by Eastern Maine Medical Center. He held a master’s degree in business administration, human relations, and counseling from Husson University.
In his lawsuit, David claimed that colleagues questioned his intelligence because of his race. He said they made racially insensitive remarks in his presence and intimidated him.
After he reported the harassment, the organization issued him a disciplinary warning. Later, it accused him of failing to perform his duties correctly and terminated his employment.
An all-white jury concluded that the hospital discriminated against David both through the harassment he endured and in its decision to fire him. The jury awarded him $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $1.5 million in punitive damages — the largest award for workplace discrimination in the state.
Lessons Learned from the Case:
- Employers should remain vigilant when handling internal reports of discrimination or harassment, ensuring their actions do not amount to retaliation.
- Strong whistleblower protections, as seen in this settlement, demonstrate the importance of safeguarding employees who speak up.
- Having comprehensive anti-discrimination policies that protect against all forms of bias and harassment is essential for maintaining a fair workplace.
Learn more about Maine Labor Laws through our detailed guide.
