Whistleblower Obtains Restraining Order to Halt Retaliation

 

On April 15th, 2015, a whistleblower working at an Alabama plant that produces foam cushions and headrests for Hyundai obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO) barring Lear Corporation from retaliating against her for her disclosures about air quality, chemical exposure, and potentially related health effects.

The order granting the TRO enjoins defendants from:

• terminating, suspending, harassing, suing, threatening, intimidating, or taking any other discriminatory or retaliatory action against any current or former employee based on Defendants’ belief that such employee exercised any rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act;
• telling any current or former employee to not speak to or cooperate with DOL representatives;
• obstructing any investigation by DOL; and
• initiating one or more law suits against current or former employees because of those individuals’ complaints about health and safety or because they engaged in protected activity under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

OSHA’s application for a TRO alleged that Defendants’ retaliation was “interfer[ing] with witness participation not only in this investigation and enforcement action, but also in other cases by deterring other workers from exercising their right to communicate with the government, their employer, or others without fear of retaliation.”

If you have suffered retaliation for whistleblowing, contact the whistleblower lawyers at Zuckerman Law to learn whether federal whistleblower laws may protect you and offer relief.  Call us for a free initial consultation at 202-262-8959.