A ruling in favor of the City of Vero Beach last week dismissing all counts in a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a 37-year veteran of the Vero Beach Police Department might not be the final word in the case as Lt. Daniel Cook’s attorney prepares to file an appeal, if needed.
At the behest of the city’s motion for a summary judgment, Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Cox ruled to dismiss Cook’s hostile workplace and retaliation claims, with prejudice, meaning Cook cannot amend or re-file them.
While city officials took a victory lap in the regional media last week celebrating their big win, Cook’s dogged attorney Jessica Travis – who publicly released more than 1,300 pages of deposition transcripts to bolster her client’s complaint – worked on her next move.
Travis on Monday stood by claims that Cook reported misconduct by his superiors “and was disciplined within weeks of doing so,” she said.
“We believe the evidence supporting his whistleblower claim was not fully addressed by the Court and are preparing a motion for rehearing and, if needed, an appeal, because Florida’s Whistleblower Act exists precisely to protect public employees like Lieutenant Cook who have the courage to report wrongdoing, and that protection must mean something,” Travis said.
In the lawsuit, Cook claims he became a target and was disciplined repeatedly because he was suspected of leaking information that would reflect poorly on Chief David Currey.
When his concerns about his treatment were not addressed...
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