Jury awards whistle-blower nearly $1 million
A Marion County jury on Friday awarded nearly $1 million to a state employee fired for whistle-blowing.
Martin Plotner was director of the state Office of Emergency Management, and was fired in 2013 for reporting mismanagement, potential lawbreaking within the Oregon Military Department and a sexual harassment claim made against a high-ranking official, the jury found.
Plotner and officials from the Military Department did not return calls seeking comment. The Oregon Military Department operates the Oregon Army and Air National Guard, along with several armories and military installations around the state and the Office of Emergency Management, which is located in Salem.
Plotner, who was also a lieutenant colonel in the Oregon National Guard, sought $625,000. The jury awarded him $966,668.
Lawmakers call on Congress to reform marijuana banking
After being Office of Emergency Management director for less than a year, Plotner was fired after two complaints were filed against him by a labor union, alleging he retaliated against employees for engaging in union activities.
Plotner sued, claiming that he lost his job for other reasons.
The jury found that Plotner was fired in part because he reported a sexual harassment complaint against Brigadier Gen. Mike Caldwell and agency mismanagement.
Caldwell retired in 2013 after a complaint was made by a female employee accusing him of acting inappropriately at a conference. Plotner knew of the allegations before the official complaint was submitted, and spoke up about them to Steve Petit, the Military Department's now-retired HR director.
Plotner also brought up what he felt were problems with the Office of Emergency Management: few safeguards to ensure compliance with state and federal law, potential lawbreaking related to spending of federal grant money, lack of training and abuse of power by management officials.
Send questions, comments or news tips togfriedman2@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6653. Follow on Twitter@GordonRFriedman.
Head of state's largest union elected international VP