Former WWU Employee Awarded Damages for Retaliation and Wrongful Termination

Former WWU Auditor Wins Lawsuit Against State of Washington for Retaliatory Action and Wrongful Termination

In a recent court case that has sent shockwaves through Western Washington University (WWU), a former director of the Office of the Internal Auditor has emerged victorious in her fight against the State of Washington. The jury awarded her substantial damages for pay and emotional harm in response to her civil complaint alleging retaliatory action and wrongful termination.

The plaintiff, who was hired in 2017 and terminated in November of 2019, claimed that she was subjected to retaliation after she reported fraudulent practices within WWU’s Woodring College of Education. According to her complaint filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, staff and faculty were allegedly granting false academic credentials to students to help them qualify for federal financial aid.

The complaint detailed how the plaintiff’s investigation into the matter led to her termination, despite her efforts to bring the issue to the attention of WWU administrators and the Washington State Auditor’s Office. She alleged that two WWU employees failed to report the fraud findings to the SAO, prompting her to take matters into her own hands.

After a lengthy legal battle, the jury sided with the plaintiff, finding that she was protected by the Washington State Employee Whistleblower Protection Act and had been wrongfully terminated. They awarded her back pay of $631,442, front pay of $867,964, and emotional harm damages of $1,500,000.

The court accepted the jury’s decision on May 24th, holding the State of Washington accountable for the plaintiff’s mistreatment. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of whistleblowers in exposing wrongdoing and seeking justice for those who speak out against corruption.