Judge says VA Montana retaliated against whistleblower
HELENA — A senior U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs official in Montana harassed and retaliated against an employee in violation of the federal Whistleblower Protection Act because the worker filed a patient safety report over an operating room error, a judge ruled Friday.
Administrative Judge James Kasic ordered the VA to pay damages and offer former Associate Chief of Inpatient Care Dianne Scotten a job similar to what she held before she resigned in December 2014. Kasic's ruling is an initial order that takes effect Nov. 4 if the VA does not request a review of the decision.
Her former boss, Associate Director of In-Patient Care Services Norlynn Nelson, denied she retaliated against Scotten for filing the report. Nelson faced no penalties in the case.
Scotten is now working for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and does not want to return to the VA, said her attorney, Jill Gerdrum. But the judge's ruling should give hope to other employees who want to speak out and lead to change within the Fort Harrison medical center, the attorney said.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/judge-says-va-montana-retaliated-against-whistleblower/article_60b663fb-9ec4-52c5-a184-52dfcfaddf9d.html
