Monthly Archives: January 2016
Shortcomings Still Exist in Texas Whistleblower Law
In 1983, the Texas state legislature passed the Texas Whistleblower Act, a major step in protecting employees across nearly all industries throughout the state. However, more than 30 years later, many legal experts say there are still holes in the law that prevent it from giving employees and taxpayers the full protections they deserve, mostly […]
Whistleblower Claim Arises from Food Safety Concerns at High School
A recent whistleblower lawsuit against the David Douglas School District near Portland, Oregon alleges that its high school was not engaging in proper food safety practices. The suit was filed by two of the district’s food service workers and a special education assistant at the school. According to the plaintiffs, officials in the school district […]
A Roundup of Recent Important Whistleblower Cases
Are you trying stay up-to-date with the latest cases and happenings in the field of whistleblower law? We have compiled a few important cases that might piqué your interest: Whistleblowers split $1.8 Million in FCA settlement in for-profit school case Five whistleblowers recently alerted authorities to a chain of for-profit schools admitting students who were […]
Employees May Not Have to Keep Investigations Confidential After All
In many situations, businesses and organizations understandably want to keep a lid on the details of their internal investigations until the facts surrounding a case have been officially confirmed. There’s not much upside for allegations to be spread around the workplace or into the public realm. However, in a recent case, a judge from the […]
SEC Brings First-Ever Enforcement Action Regarding Employee Confidentiality Agreements
In April, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiated the very first enforcement action regarding employee confidentiality agreements against KBR, Inc., a technology and engineering company based in Houston, Texas. Certain pieces of language in KBR’s agreement signed by its employees caused the SEC to take an interest in the case. According to the SEC, […]
When Do Reports Not Constitute Whistleblower Actions?
Not all reports of internal wrongdoing are technically considered whistleblower actions. In 2013, the First Circuit Court established an important “job duties” exception related to the Maine Whistleblowers Protection Act. The exception states that employee’s reports are not considered whistleblowing if making such internal reports of wrongdoing is part of the employee’s job. Since the […]
SEC Offers More Guidance on How to Interpret Whistleblower Rules
In early August, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued some clarification on rules regarding internal whistleblower reporting. According to the agency, whistleblowers are to be protected under the Dodd-Frank Act when they report misconduct both internally and directly to the SEC. This is the first formal clarification the SEC has issued, and it clears […]
