Boeing Whistleblower’s Family Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against the Jet Company
By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team
As we previously reported, former Boeing quality control manager John Barnett committed suicide during the week Boeing was deposing him in his whistleblower retaliation action against the company. We further reported how Barnett’s family brought a wrongful death action against Boeing, claiming it was responsible for Barnett’s suicide. Last week (May 12), the family settled[1] that action.
The details of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed but it does seem to bring at least some finality to the tragic story of this courageous whistleblower who worked for Boeing for 32 years before retiring in 2017 and going public with his safety concerns. He was one of several Boeing whistleblowers to raise safety alarms and quality concerns about the company’s manufacturing processes. Some of these concerns have involved allegations of seeing metal shavings discarded dangerously close to wiring for flight controls and issues with oxygen systems on Boeing 787 planes – all serious issues that could result in disasters.
Barnett reported his concerns to his supervisors but rather than take his concerns seriously, he claimed they ignored him, then punished him for raising the alarm. In their lawsuit, Barnett’s family blamed Boeing, claiming that whether “Boeing intended to drive John to his death or merely destroy his ability to function,” the end result “was absolutely foreseeable,” as was his “unbearable depression, panic attacks, and anxiety, which would in turn lead to an elevated risk of suicide.”
As reported in Forbes, Constantine Cannon whistleblower partner Gordon Schnell explained the fact that so many Boeing whistleblowers have spoken up highlights the need for a stronger, protected channel for aviation whistleblowers to report their concerns to the government: “The road of a whistleblower is extremely difficult . . . . A well-established whistleblower program would provide a safer and more effective avenue for addressing concerns within the aviation industry.”
If you are thinking about whistleblowing, there are resources to help you navigate the uncertain journey ahead. State and federal laws exist to protect you from retaliation, and mental health resources are also available to provide essential, potentially life-saving support, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Whistleblower attorneys can also help find a path that works for your particular needs and often operate on a contingency basis so there is no out-of-pocket cost involved. You are not alone.
Sources
[1] See https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-boeing-whistleblower-settles-lawsuit-maker-death-rcna206653
Tagged in: Importance of Whistleblowers,