Whistleblower News from the Inside - December 17, 2013

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

Federal judge rules NSA’s bulk collection of phone records likely unconstitutional – Somewhat redeeming the exploits of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, DC District Judge Richard Leon finds the NSA’s sweeping collection of U.S. phone records “indiscriminate,” “arbitrary,” “almost Orwellian,” and an unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment.  NYT

Medical experts say stop “wasting money” on vitamin supplements – The advice follows two new studies showing no health benefits from multivitamins and other supplements.  USA Today

Federal judge blasts government’s failure to prosecute for financial crisis – In a blistering attack, NY District Judge Jed Rakoff argues that in not going after Wall Street executives, the DOJ “has failed in its rudimentary responsibilities, offering excuses instead of action.”  NYT

FDA questions safety of antibacterial soaps – Concerned they may increase antibiotic resistance and pose hormonal risks, the agency will require antibacterial soap makers to demonstrate their products provide a clinical benefit that outweighs any possible harms.  Washington Post

SEC Whistleblower Office operates in “shroud of secrecy” – The SEC has withheld the names of the whistleblowers to whom it has made awards, which many credit to “how seriously the agency is taking its mandate to protect whistleblower confidentiality.”  WSJ

California court orders billion-dollar lead-paint cleanup – The San Jose court ordered Sherwin Williams and two other paint companies to pay $1.1 billion into a fund to clean up lead paint hazards in hundreds of thousands of homes.  WSJ