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MICK HARRISON/ATTORNEY FOR WHISTLEBLOWER: "IT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THE
LARGEST AWARDS TO A WHISTLEBLOWER THAT I'VE HEARD OF. PERHAPS THE
LARGEST IN HISTORY."
DAVID W. HALL/DUGWAY WHISTLEBLOWER: "THE JUDGE HAS LITERALLY GIVEN ME
BACK MY LIFE."
A former Army chemist wins a big one over the Army... as a judge comes
down hard... backing up the whistleblower in his battle over safety
concerns at Dugway Proving Ground.
David Hall says he was forced to retire by Dugway in 1996 because they
were trying to shut him up.
Now, a federal administrative law judge says he agrees.
And he's just ordered the Army to pay Hall a million and a half
dollars... plus attorney fees.
News Specialist John Hollenhorst has the exclusive story.
The trial was held last year before a Department of Labor Judge...
possibly the longest whistleblower trial ever...stretching over 12
weeks.
Now the judge has finally issued his 130 page ruling. In very strong
language he says the Army blatantly tried to shut David Hall up on
safety issues.
Hall and his attorney had a celebratory lunch today. The judge's ruling
means their six-year battle is over, unless the Army appeals.
Hall began working at Dugway as a chemist in 1986. He noticed numerous
safety and environmental problems: gas masks that didn't work, sites
contaminated with chemical weapons, workers flushing chemicals illegally
down drains. When he tried to get things fixed, he claims the army tried
to discredit him, swept his concerns under the rug, and forced hiim to
retire. Now, the judge has backed up Hall's version of events.
DAVID W. HALL/DUGWAY WHISTLEBLOWER: "TREMENDOUS VINDICATION, BECAUSE MY
CHARACTER WAS JUST ASSASSINATED BY THE DUGWAY MANAGERS, THE HIGHER ARMY
MANAGERS, A GENERAL EVEN. SO THE JUDGE HAS LITERALLY GIVEN ME BACK MY
LIFE."
MICK HARRISON/ATTORNEY FOR WHISTLEBLOWER: "THIS JUDGE IS A VERY
EXPERIENCED JUDGE, 28 YEARS OR SO ON THE BENCH. AND HE SAID THIS IS ONE
OF THE MOST BLATANT CASES OF RETALIATION HE'S EVER SEEN."
Hall hope this will encourage other whistleblowers to come forward. And
perhaps push the Army to safer practices.
We've been unable to reach Army officials for comment. But they
previously told the judge they're willing to appeal all the way to the
U.S. Supreme Court.
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