Workforce Bulletin

The Administrative Review Board (“ARB”) on April 27, 2012 held that where an employer charged with retaliation under the AIR21 Statute can point to evidence of misconduct by a whistleblower which would have justified termination, but which was acquired after the termination had already occurred, that evidence may be used to limit the period for which back pay damages are recoverable. Clemmons v. Ameristar Airways, Inc., ARB Case No. 08-067. The ARB remanded the matter to the Office of Administrative Law Judges (“OALJ”) to clarify whether the employer must prove that it ...

The Administrative Review Board (“ARB”) on March 28, 2012 held that the whistleblower protection provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (“CPSIA” or “Act”) are not limited to those who raise concerns only as to a “consumer product” as defined in the Act, but extends to any matter falling within the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Saporito v. Publix Super Markets, Inc., ARB Case No. 10-073. The ARB has thereby significantly expanded the number of manufacturers, distributors and retailers whose employees ...

Allen B. Roberts and Stuart Gerson  are co-authors of the recent Law360 article Examining The Purpose Of Sarbanes-Oxley. This summary of recent Administrative Review Board actions explains the shift in the standards whistleblowers must meet, and how employers should prepare for this new era of litigation.