What Kinds of Protections are Available for Whistleblowers in Tennessee?
John Verble, a financial planner at Morgan Stanley, has filed suit in federal court in Knoxville seeking back pay and brokerage funds in his personal account that the company has frozen according to the Tennessean. Verble was apparently a key confidential source in the FBI investigation into Pilot Flying J, and his collaboration with the investigation led to the federal prosecution of at least ten employees of Pilot Fling J. Verble was fired after his participation with the FBI was discovered.
In a situation such as the one Verble found himself in, what kinds of protections were available to him in exchange for his willing participation into the investigation of his employer? On the federal level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which is under the U.S. Department of Labor, has this website where you can learn in detail about your rights and the protections available to you under the law, and where you can file a complaint. On the state level, Tennessee has a whistleblower’s law, which outlines what employees cannot be disciplined or discharged for.
In the above-mentioned case of Mr. Verble, he was retaliated against by his employer when they discovered that he was informing on their illegal activities to the FBI. He was fired, they froze his brokerage account and required him to pay back a portion of his singing bonus. Mr. Verble is seeking twice his annual salary of $359,859 plus benefits, the reinstatement of his job, and the restoration of the $263,000 in his brokerage account, along with other forms of compensatory damages.
The law states that employers may not discharge or otherwise retaliate against an employee because that employee has exercised their right to file a complaint alleging the wrongdoing or illegal activities they have witnessed in the workplace. There is a tight deadline for when an employee can file a complaint, but the deadline varies according to the various occupations. The shortest deadline is 30 days and the longest is 180 days to file a complaint.
If you or someone close to you has been fired in retaliation for being a whistleblower, there are legal systems in place to protect you. You want a Memphis whistleblower attorney who will listen to your story and advocate your rights under the law. Contact the law firm of Bailey & Greer PLLC today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case and get the answers you deserve.
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Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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