• Qui Tam
  • SEC
  • CFTC
  • FCPA
  • Whistleblower Resources
  • FAQS
Subscribe
Donate
No Result
View All Result
Whistleblower Network News
The Truth at Any Cost.
Qui Tam, Compliance and Anti-Corruption News.
SIGN THE PETITION FOR NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DAY IN 2023
Whistleblower Network News
  • Qui Tam
  • SEC
  • CFTC
  • FCPA
  • Whistleblower Resources
  • FAQS
Subscribe
Donate
No Result
View All Result
Whistleblower Network News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Idaho Supreme Court rules for aviation whistleblower

WNN StaffbyWNN Staff
July 13, 2009
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInEmail

Bookmark and Share

 

 The Idaho Supreme Court gave an aviation safety whistleblower good news on July 7. In Van v. Portneuf Medical Center, the Court remanded Mark Van’s case back to an Idaho trial court to consider his claim of wrongful termination. The Idaho Supreme Court held that the district court judge erred in granting summary judgment to a hospital on the whistleblower part of the lawsuit.

Support Whistleblower Network News

 Mark Van had worked as the Portneuf Medical Center since 1986 in helicopter maintenance.  After a 2001 crash, Van became more concerned about complying with state and federal safety standards.  The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the 2001 crash was a result of pilot error, and Van raised concerns about pilots working more hours than allowed.  He also raised concerns about loopholes in a maintenance contract with a helicopter vendor. In 2005, the medical center fired Van, citing his, “his inability to maintain positive interpersonal relations with his colleagues and to foster a positive team environment.” 

The Idaho Supreme Court made clear that the state’s Whistleblower Act, I.C. § 6-2105(4), protects employees for raising protected concerns reguardless of whether or how an employer addresses the substantive violation.  Slip opinion, page 7.  The Court also held, however, that raising a concern about a possible future waste of funds is not protected under Idaho law.  The Court also affirmed dismissals of Van’s claims for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing,  Finally, the Court upheld a decision denying Van discovery of the vendor’s proposed contract as Van’s concern about that contract was not protected.

It will be interesting to follow what the medical center says about why it thought Van could not maintain a positive interpersonal relationship with the other staff.  Could it be that it was because Van was blowing the whistle on their failure to put safety first?  It would be good for courts to recognize that an employer claim that a whistleblower cannot get along with others reflects a stereotype of whistleblowers and is direct evidence of animus against their protected activity.

Other aviation whistleblowers may want to consider filing complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor under the AIR 21 law.  The time limit to file written complaints with OSHA is 90 days.

Tags: Whistleblower News
Previous Post

Obama supports whistleblowers in Ghana

Next Post

Wisconsin’s legislature considers a shield law

WNN Staff

WNN Staff

Next Post

Wisconsin's legislature considers a shield law

Please login to join discussion

Receive Daily Alerts

Subscribe to receive daily breaking news and legislative developments sent to your inbox.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Most Popular

Change the Culture, Make National Whistleblower Day Permanent

Tell President Biden to “Finish the Job” for Whistleblowers

Whistleblower Advocates See Parallels to Enron in Silicon Valley Bank Collapse

Whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson Plans to Testify at Fishrot Trial in Namibia

WNN Exclusive Interview with Social Security Whistleblowers Sarah Carver and Jennifer Griffith — Part 1

Whistleblower Raised Concerns of Rodents, Spiders in Kitchen of Childcare Facility, Then Fired; OSHA Rules They Were Retaliated Against

Whistleblower Poll

Whistleblower Poll
Whistleblower Poll

Exclusive Marist Poll: Overwhelming Public Support Among Likely Voters For Increased Whistleblower Protections

byGeoff Schweller
October 6, 2020

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

STAY INFORMED.
Subscribe to receive breaking whistleblower updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

About Us

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Careers

Subscribe

  • Daily Mail
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • YouTube Channel

Contribute

  • Letter to the Editor
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Reprint Guidelines

Your Experience

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Help

  • The Whistleblowers Handbook
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Advertise
Whistleblower Network News

Whistleblower Network News is an independent online newspaper providing our readers with up-to-date information on whistleblowing. Our goal is to be the best source of information on important qui tam, anti-corruption, compliance, and whistleblower law developments. 

Submit an Article

Copyright © 2021, Whistleblower Network News. All Rights Reserved.

This Newspaper/Web Site is made available by the publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this website, you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Newspaper/Web Site publisher. The Newspaper/Web Site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

SIGN THE PETITION FOR NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DAY IN 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Exclusives
  • Government
    • False Claims-Qui Tam
    • Federal Employees
    • Intelligence
  • Corporate
    • CFTC & Commodities
    • Dodd-Frank
    • IRS & Tax
    • SEC & Securities
  • Features
  • Legislation
  • International
    • Foreign Corruption
  • Rewards
  • Whistleblower of the Week
  • Environment & Climate
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Employment
    • Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblowers
    • Retaliation
    • OSHA
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • National Whistleblower Day
  • Whistleblower Poll
  • Whistleblower Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Resources for Locating An Attorney
    • The New Whistleblowers Handbook
  • National Whistleblower Day ’23

Copyright © 2020, Whistleblower Network News. All Rights Reserved.

Become a Whistleblower Network News Subscriber

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Subscribe to WNN

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Subscribe to WNN

Add New Playlist

Go to mobile version