Salt North Owner Skips Court, Ordered to Pay $135,000 in Back Wages
At least four workers have quit as Salt North stays open, with its owner facing a $135,081 default judgment for unpaid wages.
A Penobscot Superior Court judge has entered a default judgment ordering the owner of Bangor's Salt North Tap Room to pay a former employee $135,081 in back wages, plus interest and legal costs, the Bangor Daily News reported. The judge issued the ruling on April 21, 2026, after owner Dane Morgan neither appeared in court nor filed a response, according to case records.
Former head chef Johnathan Williams brought the case in February 2026, alleging his boss violated Maine wage law by repeatedly withholding pay. Other ex-staffers have told the newspaper that Morgan routinely shorted paychecks and pushed back payday for weeks, and at least four workers have quit over the pattern.
Reached by the newspaper, Morgan said there are "significant factual disputes regarding the claims being made" and that court paperwork reached him too late to respond. He said he has since asked the court to undo the judgment. Records show the suit was delivered to general manager Miles Guillet on March 18, 2026.
Salt North is a Caribbean-inspired bar and restaurant on Union Street in Bangor. It opened in 2025 and has continued serving customers while the wage case plays out.
This story was first reported by Bangor Daily News.
