Tiernan v. Charleston Area Medical Center, Inc.

In the instant case we reverse a ruling of the circuit court that granted summary judgment against a nurse who was fired and claimed that her firing was in retaliation for her criticism of nurse staffing and employment policies. Finding that there are material issues of fact, we remand the case for trial.

I

The appellant is Ms. Betty Tiernan. Ms. Tieman was employed as a nurse by Charleston Area Medical Center (“CAMC”) from 1985 to 1994, when she was discharged by CAMC for the stated reason that Ms. Tiernan brought a reporter to view a televised announcement where news of a corporate merger was…