IHC pays former employee $899 an hour, company suing to reclaim excess funds

SALT LAKE CITY — Intermountain Health Care is suing a former employee for return of over payment of wages after a clerical error paid her $899 per hour.

Johanna Naranjo was employed by IHC Health Services for two weeks and was supposed to receive $10.60 per hour for orientation and regular time and an extra 53 cents per hour for evening shift differential, according to a lawsuit filed in 3rd District Court. While employed from Oct. 19 to Nov. 1, 2008, Naranjo was supposed to receive a total net pay of $269.33, but due to a clerical error was paid $14,268.

The lawsuit states Naranjo was overly compensated for her time when she was paid more than 80 times her regular wage.

IHC requested the defendant repay the excess funds and when Naranjo wrote a check to Intermountain on Nov. 7, the company reissued her a $269.33 paycheck to correctly compensate her, the lawsuit states. About four months later Naranjo's check for $14,268 to repay IHC was returned as invalid.

The company is requesting the excess funds be reimbursed along with interest accrued since November 2008 and collection expenses and attorney's fees.

— Lana Groves