Millinocket whistleblower wins $60K
A Bangor court has awarded a former Millinocket town employee more than $60,000 in a wrongful termination lawsuit involving a local business owner.
Bangor Superior Court Justice William Anderson awarded former Recreation Department Director Mary Walsh $61,232 in back pay for lost wages for her 2005 firing, according to the Bangor Daily News. The ruling follows a civil court ruling in August 2009 that found that former Town Councilor and business owner Matthew Polstein violated the state's Whistleblower Protection Act by casting a tie-breaking vote in a decision to eliminate Walsh's position, after Walsh complained about dangerous conditions on trails maintained by Polstein's businesses, New England Outdoor Center, Twin Pine Camps and River Drivers restaurant. Walsh's determination threatened state and town trail-grooming subsidies Polstein received to operate his business. Polstein argued his vote to cut Walsh's job was based on a decision to consolidate the town's recreation department with those of East Millinocket and Medway. Walsh won $30,000 in damages following that civil court ruling.
Judge Anderson did not rule in favor of Walsh's reinstatement at her former post, however, saying it would likely be a "hostile" workplace. The damages will not be awarded until the town decides whether to appeal the decision.
Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>
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