Connecticut Supreme Court Rules for Whistle-Blower and Protects Employee Speech

The ACLU of Connecticut praised today’s state Supreme Court decision that upholds the free speech of employees and potentially shields whistle-blowers from retaliation.

Dan Barrett, Legal Director of the ACLU of Connecticut said, “The court’s ruling protects employees who speak out about wrongdoing. This decision safeguards both private and public workers who raise their voices against lawbreaking, health and safety problems and other major public concerns.”

The case centered on Richard Trusz who claims his employer, UBS Realty, retaliated against him for speaking out about feared overvaluation of properties.

The question before the court was whether a controversial federal Supreme Court First Amendment decision that curtailed the free speech of public employees applies to Connecticut’s more worker-friendly state law.

The ACLU of Connecticut filed an amicus brief in the case in support of Mr. Trusz. Its brief was written by Martin Margulies and ACLU of Connecticut’s former Legal Director, Sandra Staub.