University of Houston v. Barth

Stephen Barth, a tenured professor at the University of Houston, sued the University under the Texas Whistleblower Act. Barth claimed his dean at the University retaliated against him after Barth reported contracting and accounting irregularities to University officials. A jury agreed and awarded Barth damages. The University appealed, arguing the verdict was not supported by legally sufficient evidence that Barth made a good-faith report of a violation of law to an appropriate law-enforcement authority as required under the Texas Whistleblower Act. See Tex. Gov’t Code § 554.002(a). The court…