An Anahuac physician’s assistant has filed a lawsuit that claims she was paid less that her male counterparts and was not paid for any overtime work.
Claiming violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Equal Pay Act, Hilari Berklund filed suit against Chambers County Public Hospital District 1, doing business as Bayside Community Hospital & Clinic, on Aug. 31 in the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division.
Berklund claims that the defendant has failed to pay overtime compensation for the hours she worked in excess of 40 hours per week and that male employees were paid substantially greater compensation than her.
“CCPHD violated Hilari Berklund’s rights under the Equal Pay Act by discriminating against her on the basis of sex by paying her wages at a rate less than what the company pays to male employees for equal work on jobs the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility and which are performed under similar working conditions,” the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff is asking the court to issue an injunction to prevent the defendant from engaging in further violations of her rights under the Equal Pay Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act and for an award of damages for back pay, front pay, benefits, actual damages, liquidated damages, attorney’s fees, court costs and interest.
Berklund is represented by Houston attorney Scott Newar. A jury trial is requested.
Case No. 1:12-cv-00430
Physician’s assistant files Equal Pay lawsuit
