A Seattle area contractor to Alaska Airlines recently settled a whistleblower case related to airline safety concerns for $30 thousand. American Power, based in Auburn, WA, settled with a former employee who was laid off after accusing the company of ignoring federal air safety standards. The plaintiff, Melodee Nixon, alleged that she had complained to company officials that false data was being provided to Alaska Airlines regarding oxygen and nitrogen regulators used in Alaska’s aircraft. Nixon claimed that American Power was effectively cutting corners by coping and pasting old reports, rather than inputting new information for each new job. That lack of proper paperwork violated the stringent paperwork standards that are mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is relied upon to catch errors and in investigations. The settlement follows a finding by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that American Power retaliated against Nixon. American Power agreed to post information about whistleblower rights in the workplace following the settlement, but did not admit to any wrongdoing.
