In a settlement involving a former employee of the city of Flint, Michigan, the city was required to pay $250,000. The case involved a wrongful termination matter. The employee involved filed a lawsuit against the city under the Whistleblower Protection Act after he was terminated for assisting in a state investigation. The employee had worked in the city’s financial department.
The case, which was heard in Circuit Court, was settled for $250,000 before it went to trial. According to sources, the employee who was wrongfully terminated gave a report to the State of Michigan in 2011 at the request of the state. The report centered around the financial status of Flint. After the report was given to the state, the employee was then asked to participate in a trial involving the report. At the trial, the employee answered questions honestly. Shortly after the trial, the employee was fired.
Under the Whistleblower Protection Act, the employee was potentially entitled to compensation for his wrongful termination. The act was put in place in 1989 to protect employees such as this Flint city employee. According to the employee, his answers in court were truthful and he was upholding his civic duty to the city and the state of Michigan.
Fortunately, the Whistleblower Protection Act, among others, was put in place to protect employees who are victims of unlawful discrimination, wrongful termination or other violations of employment law. Those that have been affected by issues surrounding employment law may be eligible to compensation. In some cases, the employer could be at fault and the employee then may have the right to file a lawsuit.
Source: Michigan Live, “Flint settles Whistleblower lawsuit with former city employee for $250,000”, Jeremy Allen, May 17, 2013