# LAUSSER

> District Court, D. Maine · November 5, 2025

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11198061

## Case

- **Full name:** John Lausser, et al. v. Elite Airway Services, LLC, d/b/a Elite Airways, et al.
- **Court:** District Court, D. Maine
- **Decided:** November 5, 2025
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MAINE
JOHN LAUSSER, et al., )
)
Plaintiffs, )
)
v. ) No. 2:24-cv-00186-JAW
)
ELITE AIRWAY SERVICES, LLC, )
d/b/a ELITE AIRWAYS, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
ORDER ON MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT
Two former employees moved for default judgment against their former
employer for unpaid wages and discriminatory termination. Following the court’s
preliminary order finding the former employer liable to the former employees and
supplemental briefing to clarify damages calculations, the court enters default
judgment against the former employer, awarding damages and attorney’s fees.
I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The facts of this case are outlined in the Court’s August 5, 2025 preliminary
order. Prelim. Order on Mot. for Default J. (ECF No. 32) at 3-8 (Prelim. Order). The
Court therefore limits this section to the procedural history relevant to this order.
On May 20, 2024, John Lausser and Deborah Hayes (together, Plaintiffs) filed
a complaint in this court against their former employer, Elite Airways, LLC (Elite
Airways) and its President John Pearsall (together, Defendants), for unpaid wages
and discriminatory termination. Compl. (ECF No. 1). Plaintiffs alleged Defendants
violated Maine’s unpaid wages statute, 26 M.R.S. §§ 626, 626-A (Count I); Maine’s
minimum wage and overtime law, 26 M.R.S. § 664 (Count II); Federal minimum wage
and overtime law, 29 U.S.C. § 213 (Count III); and Maine’s Whistleblower Protection
Act, 26 M.R.S. § 833 (Count IV). Id. ¶¶ 27-46. Plaintiffs served Defendants on
December 20, 2024. Aff. of Serv. of Summons and Compl. (ECF No. 12); Aff. of Serv.

of Summons and Compl. (ECF No. 13). Neither Elite Airways nor Mr. Pearsall filed
an answer to Plaintiffs’ complaint. No attorney has entered an appearance on either
defendant’s behalf nor has Mr. Pearsall filed a pro se answer. Nor has either
defendant attempted to defend against the allegations in the Plaintiffs’ complaint.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs sought default judgment against Defendants. On
February 12, 2025, Plaintiffs moved for entry of default, Pls.’ Mot. for Entry of Default

(ECF No. 15), and, on February 13, 2025, the Deputy Clerk of Court entered default
against Defendants. Order Granting Mot. for Entry of Default (ECF No. 16). On
March 31, 2025, Plaintiffs filed a motion for default judgment against both
Defendants. Pls.’ Mot. for Default J. at 11 (ECF No. 19) (Mot. for Default J.).
On May 30, 2025, the Court held a hearing on Plaintiffs’ motion for default
judgment. Min. Entry (ECF No. 27). Unfortunately, because the Plaintiffs are
proceeding on four different counts, some with overlapping damages, the Court

expressed concern at the default judgment hearing that it could not order redundant
damages awards on separate counts, and since the Plaintiffs were entitled to one
award, not multiple awards on the same damages, the Court requested counsel to
address this issue in a post-hearing memorandum. Prelim. Order at 1-2. In
compliance with the Court’s instructions, Plaintiffs filed a post-hearing brief in
support of their motion for default judgment and a supplemental affidavit of
Plaintiffs’ counsel in support of the petition for attorney’s fees. Suppl. Br. to
Determine Damages and Assign Liability (ECF No. 30) (Pls.’ Suppl. Brief); Decl. of
Sally Morris in Support of Suppl. Fee Pet. (ECF No. 31) (Morris Suppl. Aff.).

On August 5, 2025, the Court issued a preliminary order, ruling on Defendants’
respective liability but requesting further briefing from Plaintiffs on appropriate
damages calculations. Prelim. Order at 58-59. The Court concluded Plaintiffs
sufficiently pleaded a basis for holding Elite Airways liable to both Mr. Lausser and
Ms. Hayes on Counts I, II, and IV, as well as holding Elite Airways and Mr. Pearsall
jointly and severally liable to Ms. Hayes on Count III. Id. at 58. The Court also

ordered Plaintiffs to respond to several questions so that the Court could calculate
accurately the damages Plaintiffs are owed on each count and avoid double recovery.
Id. Finally, the Court determined Plaintiffs are entitled to attorney’s fees but
withheld a final calculation pending resolution of the damages calculations. Id. 57.
On September 9, 2025, Plaintiffs filed their response to the Court’s preliminary order.
Pls.’ Resp. to the Questions Presented by the Court in its Prelim. Order on Mot. for
Default J. (ECF No. 37) (Pls.’ Resp.).

II. PLAINTIFFS’ DAMAGES CALCULATIONS
In their response to the Court’s preliminary order, Plaintiffs clarified that Mr.
Lausser seeks damages against only Elite Airways and only as to Counts I and IV
and Ms. Hayes seeks damages against both Elite Airways and Mr. Pearsall but only
as to Count III. They do not seek recovery under Count II, Plaintiffs explain, because
the same loss for unpaid wages for Mr. Lausser is encompassed in Count I and for
Ms. Hayes in Count III.1 Pls.’ Resp. at 9-10.
A. Mr. Lausser’s Claim for Damages under Counts I and IV:
Violations of Maine’s Unpaid Wages Statute and Whistleblower
Protection Act, 26 M.R.S. §§ 626, 626-A, 833
On Count I, the Court held Elite Airways violated Maine’s unpaid wages
statute, codified as 26 M.R.S. §§ 626 and 626-A, by failing to pay Mr. Lausser the
wages owed for the period worked between June 2022 and September 2022. Prelim.
Order at 26. On Count IV, the Court held Elite Airways violated the Maine
Whistleblower Protection Act (MWPA), codified as 26 M.R.S. § 833, by firing Mr.
Lausser in retaliation for reporting Elite Airway’s failure to pay his wages. Id. at 39-

40. Accordingly, Mr. Lausser avers Elite Airways is liable on Count I for the amount
of unpaid wages, liquidated damages, and attorney’s fees and costs, id. ¶¶ 29, 31; Pls.’
Resp. at 9-10, and on Count IV for back pay and attorney’s fees and costs. Compl. ¶
47; Pls.’ Resp. at 9-10.
In total, Mr. Lausser seeks $301,243.66 in damages. Pls.’ Resp. at 10.
Plaintiffs calculate this total based on the amounts they aver Mr. Lausser is legally

entitled to on Counts I and IV (calculated below) combined with $15,687.96 in
prejudgment interest as calculated on September 9, 2025, at an interest rate of 7.81%.
Id. at 3-4, 10.

1 In Count II, Plaintiffs allege Elite Airways violated Maine’s minimum wage and overtime law,
codified as 26 M.R.S. § 664, by willfully failing to pay minimum wage and overtime to each Plaintiff.
Compl. ¶¶ 33-34. In its preliminary order, the Court found Elite Airways, but not Mr. Pearsall, liable
to Plaintiffs on Count II. Prelim. Order at 29-31.
On Count I, Plaintiffs claim Elite Airways owes Mr. Lausser $156,275.59 in
damages for unpaid wages and health benefits from the period spanning June 16
through September 27, 2022. Id. at 1-2. Because the period from June 16 to

September 27, 2022, encompasses 15 weeks, Plaintiffs aver Mr. Lausser’s bi-weekly
salary of $6,667.67 should be multiplied by 7.5, resulting in unpaid wages of
$50,007.53. Id. at 2. Next, Maine’s unpaid wages statute, as enforced under 26
M.R.S. § 626-A, awards liquidated damages in the amount of twice the unpaid wages
for an additional $100,015.06. Id. Lastly, Mr. Lausser incurred $6,253.00 in out-of-
pocket health care expenses during that time. Id.

On Count IV, Plaintiffs claim Elite Airways owes Mr. Lausser $132,159.99 in
back pay. Id. at 8-9. First, Plaintiffs calculate Mr. Lausser is entitled to $80,000.00
in back pay for the six-month period in which he was unemployed, from October 2022
through March 2023. Id. at 8. Second, because Mr. Lausser’s replacement job pays
less than his position at Elite Airways, Plaintiffs aver he is entitled to the difference,
which Plaintiffs contend is $52,159.99.2 Id. In his new position, Mr. Lausser earns
an annual salary of $133,920.00 ($111,600.00 in salary plus a 20% bonus of

$22,320.00). Id. Compared to his Elite Airways salary of $160,000, Mr. Lausser

2 Plaintiffs refer to the $52,159.99 difference in wages as front pay. However, the $52,159.99
loss cannot be considered front pay because the loss accrued before the Court entered default
judgment. See e.g., Pollard v. E.I. du Pont Nemours & Co., 532 U.S. 843, 846 (2001) (front pay is
“money awarded for lost compensation during the period between judgment and reinstatement or in
lieu of reinstatement”); Ramos v. Davis & Geck, Inc., 167 F.3d 727, 733 (1st Cir. 1999) (“[F]ront pay . . .
compensates the plaintiff for the loss of future earnings”). Back pay, in contrast, compensates
plaintiffs for lost wages and benefits between the time of the discharge and the trial court’s judgment.
Johnson v. Spencer Press of Me., Inc., 364 F.3d 368, 379 (1st Cir. 2004) (citing Lindemann & Grossman,
Employment Discrimination Law 635–37 (Cane, Jr. et al. eds., 3d ed.1996)). Thus, the $52,159.99
amount is properly categorized as back pay and the Court refers to it as such in this order.
earns $26,080.00 less in his replacement position annually ($2,173.33 less per
month). Id. 8-9. Multiplying this difference across the relevant two-year period—
from April 2023, when Mr. Lausser secured the replacement position, through March

2025, when Plaintiffs filed their motion for default judgment—yields additional lost
wages of $52,159.99. Id. at 9. Finally, Plaintiffs ask the Court to calculate additional
back pay at the $2,173.33 monthly rate that Mr. Lausser accrues from the date of
Plaintiffs’ motion until the date the Court issues its final judgment. Id.
B. Ms. Hayes’s Claim for Damages under Count III: Violation of
Federal Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 216
On Count III, the Court held both Elite Airways and Mr. Pearsall liable to Ms.
Hayes for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. § 216, for failing
to pay her wages. Prelim. Order at 33-35. Accordingly, Ms. Hayes submits
Defendants are liable for unpaid wages, liquidated damages, penalties, and attorney’s
fees and costs under the FLSA. Mot. for Default J. at 8; Pls.’ Resp. at 9-10.

In total, Ms. Hayes seeks $6,254.38 in damages.3 Pls.’ Resp. at 10. Plaintiffs
calculate this total based on the amounts they aver Ms. Hayes is legally entitled to
receive under the FLSA combined with $578.38 in prejudgment interest as calculated
on September 9, 2025, at an interest rate of 7.81%. Id. 4, 10. At an hourly rate of
$7.25, as provided by the FLSA, Plaintiffs calculate Ms. Hayes is entitled to $103.68
for the May 8-10, 2022 trip and $333.14 for the July 11-22, 2022 trip. Id. at 6.

3 The Court notes a discrepancy between Plaintiffs’ final calculation of damages and their
response to the Court’s question about the proper basis for calculating Ms. Hayes’s damages under
Count III. The Court addresses this discrepancy in the Discussion section of this order. See Discussion
infra Section IV.
Plaintiffs calculate this amount based on the hours Ms. Hayes provided in her
affidavit: fourteen hours and nineteen minutes during her May trip and forty-five
hours and fifty-seven minutes during her July trip. Id. at 5-6; Decl. of Deborah Hayes

in Resp. to the Court’s Questions at 1-3 (ECF No. 38) (Hayes Aff.).
III. LEGAL STANDARD
Default judgment is a two-step process governed by Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 55. Universitas Education, LLC v. Granderson, 98 F.4th 357, 377 (1st Cir.
2024) (citing FED. R. CIV. P. 55(a)-(b)). “Step one is entry of default under Rule 55(a),
which provides that ‘[w]hen a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief

is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit
or otherwise, the clerk must enter the party’s default.’” Id. (citing FED. R. CIV. P.
55(a)) (alterations in original).
“Step two is entry of default judgment under Rule 55(b), which provides that
such a judgment can be entered by the clerk, assuming certain conditions are met,
and otherwise by the court.” Id. (citing FED. R. CIV. P. 55(b)). The party “must apply
to the court for a default judgment” when the defaulted party is “neither a minor nor

an incompetent person” and the movant’s claim is not for a sum certain or a sum that
can be made certain by computation. FED. R. CIV. P. 55(b)(1)-(2).
In reviewing a party’s motion for default judgment under Rule 55(b)(2), the
court “first assesses its jurisdiction and the sufficiency of the Complaint to establish
[the defendant]’s liability.” Elektra Ent. Grp., Inc. v. Carter, 618 F. Supp. 2d 89, 92
(D. Me. 2009). At this stage, the defaulting party “is taken to have conceded the truth
of the factual allegations in the complaint,” Ortiz-Gonzalez v. Fonovisa, 277 F.3d 59,
62 (1st Cir. 2002) (quoting Franco v. Selective Ins. Co., 184 F.3d 4, 9 n.3 (1st Cir.
1999)), and the court “may examine” the non-defaulting party’s claims, “assum[ing]

that all well pleaded factual allegations are true,” to determine if the non-defaulting
party “alleges a cause of action.” Davis v. Theriault, No. 1:22-cv-00275-JDL, 2023
U.S. Dist. LEXIS 153902, at *94 (D. Me. Aug. 31, 2023) (quoting Quirindongo Pacheco
v. Rolon Morales, 953 F.2d 15, 16 (1st Cir. 1992) (per curiam)).
Once the Court establishes liability, any request for monetary relief that is not
for a sum certain must be supported by proof. See KPS & Assocs. Inc. v. Designs by

FMC, Inc., 318 F.3d 1, 19 (1st Cir. 2003); In re The Home Rests., Inc., 285 F.3d 111,
114 (1st Cir. 2002)). The court determines the amount, based on affidavits or other
evidence presented by the party seeking default judgment. FED. R. CIV. P. 55(b)(2);
Int’l Union of Operating Eng’rs, Loc. 4 v. Stanley Excavation, 243 F.R.D. 25, 27 n.5
(D. Me. 2007).
Finally, “Maine law provides that a plaintiff may not receive two damages
awards for the same loss.” Giguere v. Port Resources, Inc., 927 F.3d 43, 51 (1st Cir.

2019) (citing Theriault v. Swan, 558 A.2d 369, 372 (Me. 1989)). Indeed, “the law
abhors duplicative recoveries.” Dopp v. HTP Corp., 947 F.2d 506, 517 (1st Cir. 1991).
Injured parties are “entitled to be made whole—not to be enriched.” Id. (citing Borden
v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 935 F.2d 370, 383 (1st Cir.1991)).
IV. DISCUSSION
This order is a continuation of the Court’s August 5, 2025 preliminary order.
Prelim. Order. Consistent with the First Circuit’s two-step approach, the Court’s

preliminary order resolved the Defendants’ respective liability, concluding Plaintiffs
sufficiently established liability of Elite Airways against both Mr. Lausser and Ms.
Hayes on Counts I, II, and IV, as well as joint and several liability of both Defendants
against Ms. Hayes on Count III. Id. at 24-53. The Court, however, withheld assessing
the damages available on the counts proven, until Plaintiffs provided a response
clarifying their damages calculations and to avoid impermissible double recovery.

The Court also determined Plaintiffs were entitled to attorney’s fees but withheld
calculation until Plaintiffs filed their response. Id. at 57.
The Court reviewed Plaintiffs’ response to the questions posed by the Court in
its preliminary order and determines Plaintiffs have clarified their position to avoid
double recovery. As Plaintiffs explain, Mr. Lausser seeks damages on only Count I
for unpaid wages and health benefits, as well as liquidated damages, and seeks only
back pay on Count IV, Pls.’ Resp. at 9-10, while Ms. Hayes seeks damages for unpaid

wages and liquidated damages only as to Count III. Pls.’ Resp. at 9-10.
The Court reviewed Plaintiffs’ damages calculations and awards the following
damages. The Court also awards Plaintiffs $18,565 in attorney’s fees.
Claimant Award Cause of Action Defendant(s)
John Lausser $301,475.49 Count I, 26 M.R.S. §§ 262, 262-A Elite Airways, LLC
Count IV, 26 M.R.S. § 833
Deborah Hayes $867.84 Count III - 29 U.S.C. § 216 Elite Airways, LLC; John
Pearsall (joint and several)
A. Mr. Lausser’s Damages Calculation
The Court finds Mr. Lausser is entitled to $301,475.49 in damages. On Count
I, the Court finds Elite Airways is liable to Mr. Lausser for $156,275.59 in unpaid

wages, health care expenses, and liquidated damages, as well as prejudgment
interest at 7.8% as provided by 14 M.R.S. 1602-B. On Count IV, the Court finds Elite
Airways is liable to Mr. Lausser for $145,199.90 in back pay.
1. Count I: Violations of Maine’s Unpaid Wages Statute,
26 M.R.S. §§ 626, 626-A
The penalties for violating 26 M.R.S. § 626 are set forth in 26 M.R.S. § 626-A,
which provides:
An employer is liable to the employee or employees for the amount of
unpaid wages and health benefits. Upon a judgment being rendered in
favor of any employee or employees, in any action brought to recover
unpaid wages or health benefits under this subchapter, such judgment
includes, in addition to the unpaid wages or health benefits adjudged to
be due, a reasonable rate of interest, costs of suit including a reasonable
attorney’s fee, and an additional amount equal to twice the amount of
unpaid wages as liquidated damages.

26 M.R.S. § 626-A.
First, the Court finds Mr. Lausser is entitled to $56,260.53 in unpaid wages
and out-of-pocket expenses. Taking Mr. Lausser’s biweekly paycheck of $6,667.67,
see Lausser Aff. ¶ 3 (ECF No. 20); Mot. for Default J., Attach. 1, Earning Statement,
and multiplying it by the 7.5 two-week the period he did not receive a wage while he
worked from June 16 until September 27, 2022, Mr. Lausser’s unpaid wages amount
to $50,007.53. With the addition of $6,253.00 in out-of-pocket health care expenses,
Lausser Aff. ¶ 12; id., Attach. 6, Jackson Dental, Prof. L.L.C. Bill at 2-3, the total
amount of “unpaid wage or health benefits” authorized by statute is $56,260.53.
Further, Mr. Lausser is entitled to liquidated damages in “an additional
amount equal to twice the amount of unpaid wages,” 26 M.R.S. § 626-A, here
representing an amount of $100,015.06 ($50,007.53 doubled). Combined with the

$56,260.53 in unpaid wages and out-of-pocket expenses, Mr. Lausser is owed
$156,275.59 in unpaid wages, health care expenses, and liquidated damages.
2. Count IV: Violations of Maine Whistleblower Protection Act, 26
M.R.S. § 833
On Count IV, the Court finds Elite Airways is liable to Mr. Lausser for
$145,199.90 in backpay. This amount is based on two figures: (1) Mr. Lausser’s lost
income during the six-month period he was unemployed, $80,000, and (2) the
difference in income between his Elite Airways salary and the salary he earns in his
replacement job between April 2023, when Mr. Lausser secured his replacement job,
and the date of this order, $65,199.90.
The Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) provides for recovery of back pay for

the lost income caused by discriminatory termination under the MWPA. 5 M.R.S.
§ 4613; Walsh v. Town of Millinocket, 2011 ME 99, 28 A.3d 610; accord Angelillo v.
Idexx Labs., Inc., No. CV-16-371, 2018 Me. Super. LEXIS 64, at *4 (Mar. 29, 2018)
(“Remedies available for unlawful discrimination under the MHRA include back pay
and front pay to the extent that discrimination has resulted in lost income, injunctive
relief in the form of orders to cease and desist, reinstatement in employment, civil

penal damages, and attorney’s fees”) (citing 5 M.R.S. §§ 4613(2)(B)(1), 4613(2)(B)(2),
4613(2)(B)(7), 4614).
The Court agrees with Plaintiffs that Mr. Lausser is entitled to back pay. First,
the Court agrees with Plaintiffs that Mr. Lausser is entitled to $80,000 for the six-
month period he was unemployed because of Elite Airways discriminatory

termination. Pls.’ Resp. at 8. The Court also accepts Mr. Lausser’s representation
that his total compensation at his new employer is $133,920.4 See Pl.’s Resp. at 8.
Accordingly, the Court determines the difference in Mr. Lausser’s salary at Elite
Airways ($160,000) and his replacement job ($133,920) is $26,080 annually, or
$2,173.33 per month. Mr. Lausser has therefore accrued an additional $65,199,90 in
back pay since April 2023 when he secured new employment at a lesser salary. Mr.

Lausser’s damages on Count IV as to Elite Airways is thus $145,199.90 ($65,199.90
+ $80,000).
B. Ms. Hayes’s Damages Calculation
The Court determines Elite Airways and Mr. Pearsall are jointly and severally
liable to Ms. Hayes for $867.84 in damages on Count III. The Court arrives at this
figured based on the unpaid wages during the May 8-10 and July 11-22, 2022 trips
Ms. Hayes worked for Elite Airways, $433.92, combined with liquidated damages in

an additional equal amount of $433.92.
The FLSA requires covered employees to be compensated at the federally
determined minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. 29 U.S.C. § 206. The penalties for

4 The Court acknowledges some uncertainty about how Mr. Lausser arrived at $133,920, but as
it is the figure Mr. Lausser himself proposed, the Court accepts it on the ground that he is in the best
position to know how much money he earned. Also, as the other potential figures for income from his
replacement job are less and would have resulted in a higher award, any error in Mr. Lausser’s
calculation would benefit the Defendants.
violating § 206 are provided in 29 U.S.C. § 216, which authorizes damages “in the
amount of their unpaid minimum wages . . . and in an additional equal amount as
liquidated damages.” 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).

As Plaintiffs explain in their response, Ms. Hayes is entitled to federal
minimum wage, not her contractual wage.5 Id. at 4-5. Accordingly, Ms. Hayes may
collect federal minimum wage for the hours she worked without pay from Elite
Airways. On the Court’s review of Ms. Hayes’s affidavit, her listed hours for May 8-
10, 2022, add up to thirteen hours and fifty-four minutes for $100.78 in unpaid
wages.6 See Hayes Aff. at 1-2. For her July 11-22, 2022 trip, the Court agrees with

Plaintiffs that her hours total to forty-five hours and fifty-seven minutes for $333.14
in unpaid wages. Thus, Ms. Hayes’s unpaid wages for her May and July trips are
$433.92. Combined with liquidated damages “in an additional equal amount,” Elite
Airways and Mr. Pearsall are jointly and severally liable to Ms. Hayes on Count III
$867.84. 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).

5 The Court notes the damages total provided by Plaintiffs appears to mistakenly apply her
contractual wage, rather than the federal minimum wage, as provided in the FLSA. Plaintiffs
calculate Ms. Hayes’s unpaid wages from the flights she worked for Elite Airways on May 8-10 and
July 11-22, 2022, is $2,838.00. Id. at 2-3. For her three-day trip in May, at a contractual rate of
$135.00 per day and a $35.00 per diem each day, Plaintiffs calculate $510.00 in unpaid wages. Id. at
2. For her twelve-day July trip, Ms. Hayes’s pay had increased to $144.00 per day and a $50.00 per
diem each day, which Plaintiffs aver somehow adds up to $2,328.00 in unpaid wages. Id. at 3.

6 Plaintiffs’ figure of fourteen hours and nineteen minutes for the May 2022 trip is slightly off.
Pls.’ Resp. at 6. By the Court’s estimate, Ms. Hayes’s five trips at (1) 35 minutes; (2) three hours and
eighteen minutes; (3) two hours and fourteen minutes; (4) two hours and forty-six minutes; and (5)
three hours and forty-six minutes sums to thirteen hours and fifty-four minutes. Hayes Aff. at 1-2.
C. Pre- and Post-judgment Interest
The Court awards Plaintiffs pre- and post-judgment interest to be calculate in
accordance with the terms of this judgment. As explained below, Mr. Lausser is

entitled to prejudgment interest on his damages awards under Counts I and II,
including attorney’s fees, at a rate of 7.8% beginning May 20, 2024, through the date
of this judgment. Mr. Lausser and Ms. Hayes are also entitled to a 3.66% post-
judgment interest rate on each of their damages awards.
In diversity actions, state law determines the rate of prejudgment interest,
while federal law governs post-judgment interest. John Hancock Life Insurance

Company v. Abbott Laboratories, 863 F.3d 23, 49 (1st Cir. 2017) (citing Vázquez-
Filippetti v. Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples de P.R., 723 F.3d 24, 28 (1st Cir. 2013);
See also 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a). Federal law establishes when post-judgment interest
begins to accrue and when prejudgment interest ceases to accrue. Id. (collecting
cases). Section 1961(a) states that post-judgment interest “shall be calculated from
the date of the entry of the judgment.” 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a).
1. Pre-judgment Interest

“In a diversity action . . . state law must be applied in determining whether
and how much pre-judgment interest should be awarded.” Saint–Gobain Indus.
Ceramics Inc. v. Wellons, Inc., 246 F.3d 64, 69 n. 1 (1st Cir. 2001) (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted). Under Maine law, prejudgment interest is
available pursuant to statute. See 14 M.R.S.A. § 1602-B(1)-(3). A prevailing party is
entitled to prejudgment interest “as a matter of right,” Brown v. Habrle, 2010 ME 72,
¶ 12, 1 A.3d 401, and Maine law has a presumption in favor of such awards. Kaplan
v. First Hartford Corp., 671 F. Supp. 2d 187, 194 (D. Me. 2009).
Importantly, prejudgment interest can accrue on two dates. 14 M.R.S.A.

§ 1602-B(5). Prejudgment interest may accrue when a “notice of claim setting forth
under oath the cause of action” is “served personally or by registered or certified mail
upon the defendant until the date on which an order of judgment is entered.” Id.
(emphasis added). Or, “[i]f a notice of claim has not been given to the defendant,”
prejudgment interest may accrue on the date the complaint is filed. Id. Because
Plaintiffs did not file a notice of claim, the Court agrees with Plaintiffs that their

prejudgment interest began to accrue when they filed their complaint on May 20,
2024. Pls.’ Resp. at 3.
With respect to prejudgment interest on their Maine state law claims, Counts
I and IV, Plaintiffs concede that the Law Court’s decision in Avery v. Kennebec
Millwork, Inc., is instructive. 2004 ME 147, 861 A.2d 634; Pls.’ Resp. at 3-4. The
Avery Court determined 14 M.R.S. § 1602-B, which generally governs prejudgment
interest in civil cases, including damage awards for unpaid wages under 26 M.R.S.

§ 626, provides prejudgment interest “at the one-year United States Treasury bill
rate plus 3%.” Id. at ¶ 7 (citing 14 M.R.S. § 1602-B(3)). Moreover, Plaintiffs are
correct to include Mr. Lausser’s liquidated damages total in their prejudgment
interest calculation. Pls.’ Resp. at 3-4; See Dinan v. Alpha Networks, Inc., 764 F.3d
64 (1st Cir. 2014) (interpreting Avery “to have presumed that in a wage payment
action interest is calculated under § 1602-B based on the entire judgment, including
all damages”) (emphasis supplied).
Under Maine law the “one-year United States Treasury bill rate” is calculated

by taking “the weekly average one-year constant maturity Treasury yield, as
published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, for the last full
week of the calendar year immediately prior to the year in which prejudgment
interest begins to accrue.” 14 M.R.S. § 1602-B(3)(A); Estes v. Pineland Farms, Inc.,
No. 2:10-cv-00347-MJK, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76309, at *18 (D. Me. June 1, 2012)
(citing Avery, 2004 ME 147, ¶¶ 6-8, 861 A.2d 634). For cases in which a notice of

claim has not been served personally or by registered or certified mail, “prejudgment
interest accrues from the date on which the complaint is filed.” 14 M.R.S. § 1602-
B(5). Because Plaintiffs did not serve a notice of claim, prejudgment interest began
to run on May 20, 2024. Pls.’ Resp. at 3.
Accordingly, the allowable interest rate is calculated based on the weekly
average United States Treasury bill rate for the last full week of December 2023,
which is 4.8%.7 14 M.R.S. § 1602-B(3). Adding the 3% permitted by statute, sets the

allowable prejudgment interest rate in this case at 7.8%. Accordingly, Mr. Lausser
is entitled to prejudgment interest on his $156,275.59 damages award at a rate of
7.8% from the date the complaint was filed, May 20, 2024, through the date of this

7 4.82% on December 26; 4.78% on December 27; 4.82% on December 28; and 4.79% on December
29.7 See Daily Treasury Bill Rates, United States Dep’t of the Treasury,
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financing-the-government/interest-rate-statistics (last visited
November 4, 2025) (click “Daily Treasury Bill Rates”; then choose “Daily Treasury Bill Rates” and
“2023” from dropdown; then click “Apply”).
order. With respect to Ms. Hayes’s damages award under Count III, the Court cannot
award prejudgment interest. Prejudgment interest is not available in actions under
the FLSA when the claimant receives liquidated damages under 29 U.S.C. § 216(b).

See Lupien v. City of Marlborough, 387 F.3d 83, 90 (1st Cir.2004) (citing Brooklyn
Sav. Bank v. O’Neil, 324 U.S. 697, 715-16 (1945)); Gonpo v. Sonam’s Stonewalls &
Art, LLC, No. 16-40138-MGM, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88853, at *4 (D. Me. Apr. 1,
2021) (same).
2. Post-judgment Interest
Plaintiffs’ post-judgment interest rate for each of their damages awards is

3.66%. For federal claims, “[i]nterest shall be allowed on any money judgment in a
civil case recovered in a district court . . . calculated from the date of the entry of the
judgment, at a rate equal to the weekly average 1-year constant maturity Treasury
yield as published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, for the
calendar week preceding the date of the judgment.” 28 U.S.C. § 1961(a).
Accordingly, the allowable post-judgment interest rate is calculated based on
the weekly average United States Treasury bill rate for the week of October 27-31,

2025, which is 3.66%.8 Id. Plaintiffs are therefore entitled to post-judgment interest
on their damages awards at an interest rate of 3.66% beginning on the date of this
Court’s judgment.

8 3.60% on October 27; 3.59% on October 28; 3.70% on October 29; 3.70% on October 30; and
3.71% on October 31. See Daily Treasury Bill Rates, United States Dep’t of the Treasury,
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financing-the-government/interest-rate-statistics (last visited
November 4, 2025) (click “Daily Treasury Bill Rates”; then choose “Daily Treasury Bill Rates” and
“2025” from dropdown; then click “Apply”).
D. Attorney’s Fees
The Court awards Plaintiffs $18,565 in attorney’s fees. As the Court’s
preliminary order explained, Plaintiffs are entitled to recover attorney’s fees under

each statute giving rise to their causes of action. Prelim. Order at 53-57. To calculate
reasonable attorney’s fees, courts apply the lodestar method, which multiplies
counsel’s hourly rate by the hours counsel spent on the case. Hensley v. Eckerhart,
461 U.S. 424, 433-34 (1983). Counsel must provide their hourly rate and a description
of the work completed. See Hutchinson ex rel. v. Patrick, 636 F.3d 1,15 (1st Cir. 2011).
Attorney Morris has submitted two affidavits and corresponding invoices

setting forth an hourly rate of $300 per hour and the hours she has committed to this
matter for a total of $18,565 in attorney’s fees. First, on March 31, 2025, Attorney
Morris submitted an affidavit and attached invoice for attorney’s fees in the amount
of $9,565. Decl. of Sally Morris in Supp. of Fee Pet. (ECF No. 22), Attach. 1, Invoice.
Second, on June 13, 2025, Attorney Morris submitted a second affidavit and attached
an invoice setting forth $9,000 in additional fees for the work she completed since her
March 31, 2025 filing. Morris Suppl. Aff., Attach. 1, Ex. 1 Invoice.

Because Plaintiffs are entitled to attorney’s fees on all counts, the court awards
prejudgment interest at the Maine state law rate of 7.8%, pursuant to 14 M.R.S.
§1602-B, and post-judgment at the federal rate of 3.66%, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
1961(a). See Abbott Laboratories, 863 F.3d at 49.
V. CONCLUSION
In sum, the Court enters default judgment against Elite Airways, LLC and
John Pearsall in favor of Plaintiffs in the amount of damages as follows.

Claimant Award Prejudgment Interest Post-Judgment Defendant(s)
(accruing on 5/20/24) Interest
John Lausser $301,475.49 7.8% 3.66% Elite Airways, LLC
Deborah $867.84 N/A 3.66% Elite Airways, LLC; John
Hayes Pearsall (joint and several)
The Court also awards $18,565 in attorney’s fees against both Elite Airways, LLC
and John Pearsall at a prejudgment interest rate of 7.8% (accruing May 20, 2024,
through the date of this judgment) and post-judgment interest of 3.66% (beginning to
accrue on the date of this judgment).
The Court ORDERS the Clerk of the Court to enter judgment against Elite
Airways, LLC in favor of John Lausser in the amount of $301,475.49, to enter
judgment against Elite Airway, LLC and John Pearsall, jointly and severally, in favor
of Deborah Hayes in the amount of $867.84, and to enter judgment for attorney’s fees
in favor of John Lausser and Deborah Hayes against Elite Airways, LLC and John
Pearsall, jointly and severally, in the amount of $18,565.
SO ORDERED.
/s/ John A. Woodcock, Jr.
JOHN A. WOODCOCK, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Dated this 5th day of November, 2025

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11198061. Public record. Not legal advice.