Jackson Maynard, Executive Director and Counsel for the Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF), is speaking out after what he describes as a retaliatory move by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Attorney General’s office against whistleblower Scott Smith, despite Smith voluntarily dropping his lawsuit.
Listen to the audio here:
Smith, a former analyst for WSDOT, blew the whistle on alleged efforts by agency leadership to cover up the projected impact of Governor Jay Inslee’s Climate Commitment Act on gas prices. According to Maynard, Smith was pressured to alter data forecasts that would have revealed dramatic fuel price increases tied to the legislation. When he refused, he was allegedly denied promotions, subjected to workplace retaliation, and even blocked from taking leave to visit his mother over Thanksgiving.
Though his case had substantial evidence, including corroborating testimony from current and former WSDOT employees, Smith ultimately chose to withdraw the lawsuit, citing the physical and emotional toll of litigation. But the state, rather than moving on, filed a rare and aggressive motion for sanctions, seeking $400,000 in legal fees from Smith and CADF.
“This is not just kicking a dead horse,” Maynard said during an interview on The Ari Hoffman Show. “This is digging up the bones and kicking those. It’s overkill.”
A Case of Retaliation?
According to Maynard, the motion for sanctions lacks legal merit and ignores extensive...
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