Barnard v. Powell Valley Electric Cooperative

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE JO ANN BARNARD, ) ) Case No. 3:18-cv-537 Plaintiff, ) ) Judge Atchley v. ) ) Magistrate Judge Poplin POWELL VALLEY ELECTRIC ) COOPERATIVE, ) ) Defendant. ) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Defendant Powell Valley Electric Cooperative (“PVEC”) fired Plaintiff Jo Ann Barnard. Barnard sued PVEC claiming that it violated the Equal Pay Act, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)(1), by paying her less than her male coworkers throughout her career. She also claims that PVEC fired her because she engaged in legally protected activity—reporting her…