Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) must pay over $25,000 in back wages and damages after it failed to reimburse a salaried anesthesiologist for wages stolen in a payroll diversion scam, in the case Dorsey v. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center.
Dr. Deanna Dorsey, a highly compensated salaried professional working under a written employment agreement, fell victim to a phishing attack. Cybercriminals accessed her payroll account, changed her direct deposit details, and diverted more than $8,400 in earned wages. When she demanded repayment, EMMC refused, claiming it had fulfilled its obligations under her contract.
The court found that Maine’s Wage & Medium of Payment Law requires employers to pay employees in full and on time, even if internal payroll systems or software authorize the diversion. It rejected EMMC’s defense, stating that no contract can override statutory wage protections.
The judgment awarded Dr. Dorsey $8,353.33 in unpaid wages, $79.65 already recovered, and $16,706.66 in liquidated damages—totaling $25,059.99 before attorney’s fees, costs, and interest.
Lessons learned from the case:
- Employers must ensure employees receive all earned wages, even after payroll fraud.
- State wage payment laws take priority over internal policies or contracts.
- Salaried employees have the same legal protections and can recover withheld or diverted pay in full.
If you want to know more about salaried employee rights, read our guide on What are my rights as a salaried employee in Maine?
