A jury has awarded urologist Deborah La Scola, MD, more than $6.8 million in a lawsuit against St. Louis-based SSM Health, finding the health system retaliated against her after she repeatedly complained about pay disparities between herself and her male colleagues, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported June 29.
Dr. La Scola alleged SSM paid male urologists higher rates through emergency department on-call earnings and delayed renewing her contract for 10 months after it had lapsed while promptly renewing those of her male counterparts. She was terminated without cause in September 2022 and placed on immediate administrative leave, after which she said she was unable to find comparable employment in St. Louis and accepted a lower-paying position in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
The jury rejected her sex discrimination and Equal Pay Act claims but found in her favor on retaliation, awarding $793,000 in lost wages, $285,500 in compensatory damages and $5.75 million in punitive damages.
“We are very disappointed with the jury’s verdict. Eight of the plaintiff’s nine claims were dismissed, and we demonstrated throughout the proceeding that her compensation and employment decisions were made for legitimate, non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory reasons,” Matt Wagner, SSM Health System’s vice president of communications, told Becker’s in a statement.
“Our mission and values have always been to promote the dignity and well-being of every person we work with and serve, and we stand by that. We will seek post-trial relief and appeal the verdict if necessary. SSM Health does not tolerate discrimination or retaliation, and we remain committed to the heritage of healing and service that guides the health system to provide exceptional health care with compassion to every person served today,” he added.
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