https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

issue_20040101


Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan

Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan

A unanimous Michigan Court of Appeals panel ruled that an environmental whistleblower case can proceed to trial, according to Public Employees for Environmental
  • Written by American City & County Administrator
  • 1st November 2004

A unanimous Michigan Court of Appeals panel ruled that an environmental whistleblower case can proceed to trial, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The case involves a Gratiot Conservation District manager who was fired after reporting pollution violations and financial irregularities.

Robin Berryhill served as a “Grant 319” project manager with the Conservation District. Her job was to monitor non-point sources of water pollution.

In January of 2002, the Conservation District fired Berryhill for reporting major water quality violations, including pollution discharges and fish kills in Pine Creek, to the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, contrary to District directives.

In addition to refusing to obey the illegal orders, Berryhill reported dubious fiscal management of the Conservation District, including the practice of “double dipping” grant money” i.e., accepting duplicate payment for the same activity from more than one source.

On March 10, 2003, the 29th Circuit Court dismissed Berryhill’s complaint, filed under Michigan’s Whistleblower’s Protection Act. In August, the state Court of Appeals reversed that dismissal, characterized the earlier action of trial court as “factually and legally flawed.” Berryhill’s suit seeks reinstatement, lost wages and other appropriate damages. The matter will now be scheduled for a jury trial.

Berryhill is represented in the suit by Scott A. Brooks, an attorney with the Detroit labor law firm of Gregory, Moore, Jeakle, Heinen & Brooks, and PEER, a national environmental whistleblower defense organization.

“This is a great victory for the community and for Robin Berryhill, who will now have her day in court, ” stated Scott A. Brooks. “The irony in this case is that the Gratiot Conservation District is supposed to be safeguarding the community’s land and water; but in this case it ordered an employee to ignore serious pollution violations and then fired her when she refused.” “This case is about whether a public servant can be terminated for trying to protect her community from the threat of contaminated drinking water,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “Michigan’s environmental laws become useless if people who report pollution violations may be summarily fired for doing their civic duty.”

Tags: ar issue_20040101 mag

Most Recent


  • What’s my truck worth?
    Truck Value VIN Decoding & Make/Year/Model Lookup
  • Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan
    Calendar of events
    A list of NIGP courses, conferences and webinars for NIGP members held in December 2012 and January 2013.
  • Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan
    UPPCC new certifications
    The Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council announces that 208 individuals successfully completed the spring 2012 UPPCC certification examinations administered in May 2012.
  • Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan
    Performance data on the latest certification exams
    The UPPCC has released key performance data from the May 2012 examinations.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan
    U.S. Prison Population Approaches 1.5 Million
  • Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan
    Spy Gear
  • Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan
    xxxNews Of The Weirdxxx
  • Fish Kill Pollution Case Revived In Michigan
    Smarter First Responder Spending Needed Says Report

White papers


Digital Government Service Delivery – A Guide for Buyers

23rd February 2023

Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022
view all

Webinars


Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023

6th February 2023

How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: America’s top 10 bicycle-friendly cities

20th March 2023

Gallery: Top 10 hardest working American cities

8th March 2023

Gallery: Top 10 least expensive American metro areas

24th February 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

St. Louis Communities Boost Great Energy Savings dlvr.it/SlFyV0

21st March 2023
AmerCityCounty

How Can Public Sector Best Tackle Their Unique Storage Needs? dlvr.it/SlFxXk

21st March 2023
AmerCityCounty

Is your agency’s procurement team sidelined during the infrastructure procurement process? dlvr.it/SlC0VM

20th March 2023
AmerCityCounty

The importance of building relationships: 2022 Exemplary Public Servant Molly McLoughlin dlvr.it/SlBcmr

20th March 2023
AmerCityCounty

Business group works to help Hispanic-owned enterprises get their share of public sector contracts dlvr.it/Sl361G

17th March 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.