| Description |
It is hereby ordered that judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff, Sheldon H. Parker, on his claim of retaliation pursuant to the Conscientious Employee Protection Act...against defendants Atochem North America in the amount of $50,000. It is further ordered and adjudged that judgment shall and hereby is entered for the plaintiff, Sheldon H. Parker, on his claim of retaliation...againstAtochem North America in the amount of$17,500for punitive damages. It is further ordered that defendants Atochem North America shall pay to plaintiff's counsel attorney's fees and costs in the amount of $125,000.
ONLY A DECADE AGO, A judgment such as this was a rarity. Outside of narrowly prescribed circumstances, employers had little to fear from taking retaliatory action against an employee who blew the whistle on the company's alleged improper or illegal activity. In those bygone days, employers could deal with the whistleblower, who was regarded as disloyal or insubordinate, as they saw fit, which usually meant disciplining and, in some cases, dismissing the employee. Not so today. With the emergence of whistleblower laws, employers must proceed cautiously when dealing with employees who voice opposition to any of their practices or actions; the employer who fails to do so could face serious liability. (Description from Source) |