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Georgia Court Raises Standard for Whistleblower Actions

7/30/12

By: Kelly Morrison
The Georgia Court of Appeals, in Fulton County v. Colon,  recently issued a ruling on whistleblower lawsuits, which may significantly narrow the scope of actions that can be brought against governmental entities by disgruntled employees. 
The Court of Appeals held that whistle-blower protection is limited to complaints which are related to a state-funded program or operation under the jurisdiction of the public employer. 
This opinion increases the burden on would-be plaintiffs, by forcing them to point to complaints related to a program that is funded at least in part by the state, instead of making generalized allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse.