By Stephen M. Kohn Quorum, 2000
In this incisive survey, Stephen Kohn examines the 35 federal laws that protect whistleblowers, plus the common law protections in each of the 50 states. The result is an essential introduction to the basic principles of whistleblower law as well as a step-by-step guide for conducting actual cases.
Drawing on his extensive experience as a litigator and scholar, Kohn addresses the many issues that are apt to arise in whistleblower actions. For instance, what is protected activity under a given statute, and who qualifies for protection? What constitutes discriminatory conduct? What type of evidence is needed to prove unjust retaliation? What must all parties understand about burden of proof? How are damages and attorney fees calculated? Kohn meticulously answers these and many other critical questions in a clear and readable way.
Attorneys who specialize in areas affected by whistleblower law will find this both a thoughtful study and a useful courtroom aid. So will human-resource executives, labor union officers and attorneys, government contractors, librarians, “good government” advocates and anyone else with an interest in the dynamic field of whistleblower law.
"There are at least three reasons why every lawyer should buy and read this book. First, Steve Kohn is America's premier lawyer on whistleblower issues. Second, whistleblower law protects vital freedoms of speech, conscience and petition--you should read this book to help understand how those freedoms are endangered by big government and corporate America. Third, Steve Kohn knows how to write about the law-he shows you why he has achieved his notable courtroom successes, and sets out clearly what every lawyer and every whistleblower needs to know." - Michael E. Tigar, Professor of Law at American University
"Workers who stand up for their co-workers and the public good against lawbreaking employers are among the unsung heroes of our society. Stephen Kohn's book gives workers, their unions, and their lawyers all the tools they need to make sure that when the whistle is blown, the wrongdoer and not the whistleblower gets punished." - John J. Sweeney, President of the AFL CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization)
"Stephen Kohn's new book on whistleblowing, Concepts and Procedures in Whistleblower Law, is a masterpiece. The book is an invaluable resource, which clearly and concisely explains the complex maze of regulations and laws governing whistleblowing. Comprehensive, well organized and readable, it is simply the best legal text ever written on the subject." - Victoria Toensing, Founding Partner of di Genova & Toensing
"Stephen Kohn's new treatise on Whistleblower Protection Law provides a critical resource in a vital area. Whistleblowers help protect us all in countless ways--they expose dangerous environmental conditions, unsafe work practices, consumer rip-offs and fraud on the government. Kohn's scholarly, yet common-sense treatment of this subject pulls together the existing amalgam of scattered labor and employment laws that protect whistleblowers and give the practitioner a reliable and effective tool for navigating these waters." - Gerard M Waites, Partner at O'Donoghue & O'Donoghue