Maine Employment Lawyer Blog

In Maine, unlike most states, state employees do not pay into the federal Social Security system. Some Maine legislators are seeking to change that. Under the current system, only 1 in 5 employees receives a full pension because most employees do not work for the State long enough to get the full pension. For most State employees, when they move to a new employer, they take no pension and no Social Security credit with them. The legislators looking to change the system want State employees to be able to get credit under the Social Security system that they can take with them if they leave State employment. They believe that this change would also help fill a hole in the funding of the Maine State Retirement System.

On June 25, 2010, a jury in Cumberland County Superior Court, in Portland, Maine, found that Express Jet discriminated against a former employee, Edward Russell, because of his sexual orientation. The jury awarded a total of $1,047,000 in damages to Mr. Russell. Express Jet discriminated against Mr. Russell when it prevented him from applying for management positions that he wanted. Attorney Guy Loranger represented Mr. Russell and attorney Alison Bell represented Express Jet at the trial. "This guy was completely qualified to do the job," Loranger said. "The jury said it didn't matter his color, his race, his national origin or his sexual preference -- he was qualified to do the job and you should have allowed him to do it."