Whistle-Blower's Legal Victory Seen As Supporting Industry Scientists Who Criticize Their Employers Author: FRANKLIN HOKE, pp.1
Date: August 22,1994
| Mobil Oil toxicologist who was fired after he voiced concerns about safety standards is awarded $3.5 million |
An industry toxicologist's legal victory over his former employer may reflect an inclination on the part of the courts to extend greater protections to whistle-blowers who raise scientific issues in the workplace, according to scientists and other observers. Also, they say, the unusually large size of the whistle-blower's award in the case--$3.5 million--should serve as a warning to companies against punishing dissent among their scientists. At the same time, they caution, the direct legal ramifications of the win will probably not reach beyond the borders of the state in which the case was tried, New Jersey, although many national high-technology companies have facilities there.
In late 1989, Myron A. Mehlman, who had been chief ...
