Georgia Supreme Court Issues Georgia Whistleblower Act Opinion

On March 6, 2017, the Georgia Supreme Court held that municipal employees who have claims under the Georgia Whistleblower Act do not have to provide their employer with ante litem notice prior to filing a lawsuit. The Georgia Whistleblower Act protects government employees who are retaliated against for blowing the whistle on government fraud, waste, and abuse. The Supreme Court’s decision is an important victory for municipal employees because it guarantees that they have the full time allowed by the Georgia Whistleblower Act’s statute of limitations in order to file their cases in court. Legare, Attwood & Wolfe partner Steven E. Wolfe led the Amicus Committee of the National Employment Lawyers Association’s Georgia Affiliate, which filed an amicus brief, authored by Lisa Lambert, on behalf of the employee in the West case, with A. Lee Parks of Parks, Chesin & Walbert, P.C., appearing at oral argument on the organization’s behalf. The case is West v. City of Albany, No. S16Q1881.