Peter W. Russo v. State of Rhode Island, Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals

OPINION

Justice ROBINSON,

for the Court.

The defendant, the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH), 1 appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court that was entered on November 8, 2010, following a bench trial. The trial justice found in favor of Peter W. Russo, the plaintiff, holding that the MHRH had violated the Rhode Island Whistleblowers’ Protection Act (WPA), as codified in G.L.1956 §§ 28-50-1 to -9, when it placed the plaintiff on administrative leave with pay and required that he undergo an independent medical examination (IME). The MHRH contends that…