Thompson v. El Centro Del Barrio

OPINION

RICKHOFF, Justice.

This appeal questions the viability of a claim for “whistleblowing” when a private employer misuses public funds. The appellants and plaintiffs below, Debbora Thompson and Concepcion Oropeza, worked for El Centro Del Barrio (El Centro), a private nonprofit corporation that operates community health clinics with public funding. The appellants contend they were fired in retaliation for reporting “improper, fraudulent and unlawful” activities of Dr. Ernesto Gomez, El Centro’s director. At El Centro’s request, the trial court dismissed appellants’ lawsuit. In a single…