Whistleblower cases are sometimes extremely complex. The ones who choose to take a stand against corruption or cooperate in a corruption investigation often experience retaliation in many forms. In some cases, such retaliation occurs in the whistleblower’s workplace. Other times, it occurs in more insidious ways that affect a participant’s lifestyle and business.
According to a Detroit news source, a towing operator in Michigan has filed a retaliation lawsuit against the Michigan State Police (MSP). He claims that the MSP is retaliating against his business because he is cooperating with a whistleblower investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The tow company became involved in the case when a disgruntled former trooper filed a whistleblower complaint against the MSP. The former trooper claims that the MSP gave preferential treatment to the tow company in exchange for free tickets to Detroit Tigers’ games. Allegedly, the towing company received more business by providing troopers with these free tickets.
Now, the tow operator claims that he is losing business due to his cooperation in the initial whistleblower investigation. He went on to say that the tickets were gifts and do not indicate collusion with troopers to increase his tow business. The business owner’s lawsuit is built around the retaliation in which the MSP allegedly engaged.
As you can see, whistleblowers must often cope with many obstacles after filing a complaint or participating in a corruption investigation. A great way to minimize these obstacles and remain free of suspicion is working with an attorney throughout the investigation. Lawyer representation also helps you make sure your rights remain protected at all times. This is especially important if the authorities increase your involvement in their investigation.