What is the name of your state? Ohio
I was an employee of a public entity for 13 years. My Superior asked me to engage in criminal activity (he was convicted of felony Medicare Fraud in 1987). I decided to come forward because I didn't want wrapped up in anything illegal.
I made formal allegations to the Public Officials that oversee my Superior. I became the third to do so over a 7 year period. The same Officials were in office during all three. Unfortunately, the Officials had a bigger role than I knew. That explains why, of the three to come forward (one in 2001, 2005 and 2007), two were terminated (including myself) and the other was nearly terminated (former second in command).
Needless to say, no investigation or action took place any of the three times.
When I made my allegations, I had plenty of evidence to back up my claims, but the Board refused to meet with me or discuss them.
A story ran in the local newspaper and on the news; during which time, the Chairman of the Board acknowledged that no investigation was done because the Board found the allegations to be "old news." They sent me a letter to the same affect. While speaking on the news, the Chairman said, "We find the allegations to be old news." He said, "The Board's been well aware of them because they've spanned over a few years." He said, "That's why we felt no in depth investigation was necessary. The allegations are simply untrue and the person that made them (he named me) is just mad because he didn't get promoted (a year prior)."
Less than a month later, that same individual was quoted (in the newspaper) saying that the Board "did an in-depth investigation and every allegation was found to be completely false and baseless." He again stated that I was just mad about the promotions last year.
The problem is, they never investigated anything. They admitted it in other papers, on the news and in a letter written to me. Plus, I made requests to meet with them and show them the evidence that I had, which would support all of my claims. They refused to meet with me and never saw a single piece of paper I had. The intentional deceptive claim (that an investigation was done and every allegation was found to be false and baseless) has cost me my career (they fired me [I'm pursuing the termination of course]); ruined me financially and has had a profound affect on my family and I. My credibility was shot and suddenly I was tagged as "a disgruntled employee that made up allegations out of anger." I've been shunned by former friends, members of the public, my former employees, the environment became very hostile, etc.
Since they wouldn't investigate and chose to use politics to cause my credibility to be called into question (making my allegations less believable), I forwarded the allegations and evidence to the appropriate authorities. The investigation is ongoing and I know that once all is said and done, I'll be vindicated (when my allegations are proven true). But that does nothing for my family and I in the interim, nor does it fix the emotional and psychological trauma that losing my career (that I've put every ounce of blood, sweat and tears I have into); losing credibility, being humiliated, publicly ousted, had my integrity and honor called into question, etc...
I can prove every one of my allegations true and can prove no investigation was done.
Having said that, If I proved them, would making the claim; (every one of my allegations was found to be false and baseless after a thorough investigation), amount to Libel on the part of the Chairman? It was printed in the newspaper, was not opinion based and was without question, an untrue statement of fact that had a dramatically negative impact upon my family and I.
Thanks for your time. Any answer and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?
I was an employee of a public entity for 13 years. My Superior asked me to engage in criminal activity (he was convicted of felony Medicare Fraud in 1987). I decided to come forward because I didn't want wrapped up in anything illegal.
I made formal allegations to the Public Officials that oversee my Superior. I became the third to do so over a 7 year period. The same Officials were in office during all three. Unfortunately, the Officials had a bigger role than I knew. That explains why, of the three to come forward (one in 2001, 2005 and 2007), two were terminated (including myself) and the other was nearly terminated (former second in command).
Needless to say, no investigation or action took place any of the three times.
When I made my allegations, I had plenty of evidence to back up my claims, but the Board refused to meet with me or discuss them.
A story ran in the local newspaper and on the news; during which time, the Chairman of the Board acknowledged that no investigation was done because the Board found the allegations to be "old news." They sent me a letter to the same affect. While speaking on the news, the Chairman said, "We find the allegations to be old news." He said, "The Board's been well aware of them because they've spanned over a few years." He said, "That's why we felt no in depth investigation was necessary. The allegations are simply untrue and the person that made them (he named me) is just mad because he didn't get promoted (a year prior)."
Less than a month later, that same individual was quoted (in the newspaper) saying that the Board "did an in-depth investigation and every allegation was found to be completely false and baseless." He again stated that I was just mad about the promotions last year.
The problem is, they never investigated anything. They admitted it in other papers, on the news and in a letter written to me. Plus, I made requests to meet with them and show them the evidence that I had, which would support all of my claims. They refused to meet with me and never saw a single piece of paper I had. The intentional deceptive claim (that an investigation was done and every allegation was found to be false and baseless) has cost me my career (they fired me [I'm pursuing the termination of course]); ruined me financially and has had a profound affect on my family and I. My credibility was shot and suddenly I was tagged as "a disgruntled employee that made up allegations out of anger." I've been shunned by former friends, members of the public, my former employees, the environment became very hostile, etc.
Since they wouldn't investigate and chose to use politics to cause my credibility to be called into question (making my allegations less believable), I forwarded the allegations and evidence to the appropriate authorities. The investigation is ongoing and I know that once all is said and done, I'll be vindicated (when my allegations are proven true). But that does nothing for my family and I in the interim, nor does it fix the emotional and psychological trauma that losing my career (that I've put every ounce of blood, sweat and tears I have into); losing credibility, being humiliated, publicly ousted, had my integrity and honor called into question, etc...
I can prove every one of my allegations true and can prove no investigation was done.
Having said that, If I proved them, would making the claim; (every one of my allegations was found to be false and baseless after a thorough investigation), amount to Libel on the part of the Chairman? It was printed in the newspaper, was not opinion based and was without question, an untrue statement of fact that had a dramatically negative impact upon my family and I.
Thanks for your time. Any answer and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?
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