Former Safety Manager Sues MultiCare Alleging Wrongful Termination

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A former safety manager sued MultiCare and The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, alleging MultiCare retaliated against him illegally after he blew the whistles on unsafe and unsanitary conditions at many locations of the health system.

Case background

The safety manager in question is Christopher LaDue. During his employment at MultiCare, Mr. LaDue attempted to address concerns regarding safety and sanitation at those location, issues that MultiCare management acknowledged as being a risk to the general public. However, MultiCare chose not to address those issues for financial reasons, according to LaDue’s legal team.

In one allegation, LaDue found the company failed to comply with many requirements regarding sterilization of operating rooms, and air quality in the midst of construction work. He specifically pointed to the presence of mold in the showers and other parts of facilities, as well as a construction contractor failing to comply with environment of care standards, resulting in patients being exposed to debris, dust and mold.

LaDue filed anonymous whistleblower complaints with the state’s Department of Health and the Joint Commission after the health system allegedly chose not to act on his recommendations. When the commission sent his complaint to MultiCare, LaDue’s superior was able to identify him as the whistleblower. LaDue subsequently had a promotion revoked, and was subjected to an increasingly hostile work environment that prevented him from doing his job.

LaDue ultimately gave a 30-day notice, at which point he was fired. He maintains he was simply attempting to do his job in reporting the public health hazards at MultiCare’s locations.

There is an increasing number of health and safety whistleblower cases popping up across the United States in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you become aware of these types of violations and need legal assistance as you blow the whistle, contact an experienced whistleblower lawyer at Kardell Law Group.

By Steve Kardell | Published February 25, 2021 | Posted in Whistleblower Litigation | Tagged health care safety, unsafe conditions, workplace retaliation

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