Takeaway: An employee who was fired when he refused to continue working after city inspectors found numerous safety violations at the worksite was entitled to more than $7 million in damages for whistleblower retaliation under California law.
A California appellate court recently upheld a large jury award in favor of a former employee of a Los Angeles entertainment and media company. The jury found the employer liable for whistleblower retaliation under California Labor Code section 232.5, which prohibits an employer from discharging an employee who discloses information about the employer's working conditions, and section 1102.5, which prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who refuses to participate in an activity that would violate the law. The jury awarded the employee more than $7 million in damages.
The employer initially produced internet programming, but in 2014, it began focusing on hologram technology by which images are projected onto a screen and reflected for audience viewing. The employee worked for the company from 2013 to 2017. During his employment, he became heavily involved in hologram production. He learned the technology; how to install the equipment; and how to stage productions that the company created for television shows, concerts and museums.
In September 2017, the employee began working at a church that the company was converting into a theater for hologram productions. He was responsible for installing production equipment...
When a company promises to save the planet by 2050, it sounds reassuring. But what if that promise comes with no real plan, no credible evidence, and no accountability? A sweeping new study reveal...