Bloomberg Law
Nov. 25, 2019, 4:18 PM UTC

Law Firm Clerk Not Protected After Reporting Illegal Billing

Bernie Pazanowski
Bernie Pazanowski
Reporter

An accounts receivable clerk at a law firm who reported the firm’s allegedly illegal billing practices to the FBI didn’t have a claim for wrongful discharge under West Virginia law, the state’s high court said Nov. 22.

Christine Blanda’s attempt to create an exception to the rule that at-will employees aren’t entitled to whistleblower status was rejected in an opinion by Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

Blanda believed that Martin & Seibert LC billed clients attorney rates for work done by nonattorneys. Her concerns were dismissed by the firm, but she feared ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:

Learn About Bloomberg Law

AI-powered legal analytics, workflow tools and premium legal & business news.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools.