A former employee in the public health division of the Oregon Health Authority who spearheaded a campaign against a relatively rare occupational lung disease is suing the agency, alleging discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court, seeks $250,000.
Lawyers for Crystal Weston, a former program coordinator with the Occupational Public Health Pesticide Exposure Safety and Tracking Program, allege in the suit that she persuaded the agency at the end of 2019 to recognize silicosis as a reportable condition, meaning it would be tracked and investigated. But the complaint said the health authority redesignated its status, which meant that health officials would not share data with Oregon work safety officials and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about cases.
The health authority did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment.
The lawsuit said that Weston was hired by the public health division on Feb. 20, 2019. Though she has left the agency, she is still listed on OHA’s website as the lead contact for the pesticide tracking program. The complaint said she “worked tirelessly” to persuade the authority to recognize silicosis as a reportable condition.
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