Texas Oil Regulator Files Wrongful Termination Claim After Exposing Safety Issues

An oil inspector in Texas claims to have been wrongfully fired for reporting safety violations within his company and being subject to unfair retaliation in the time leading up to his dismissal.

That inspector, Fred Wright, was fired about a year and a half ago. He had had a successful career including numerous excellent performance reviews and many promotions. But in his wrongful termination lawsuit, he alleges that his superiors told him to give his approval for oil wells that did not meet safety standards with the understanding that the company would eventually fix the wells later on. Wright did not feel comfortable giving his approval, and as a result, several companies complained that he was difficult to work with. He eventually lost his job.

If the allegations from Wright are found to be true, then the oil companies in question would almost certainly have punitive damages levied against them due to their willful violation of safety procedures. Wright’s version of the story indicates that he did his job as he is required to do, and refused to give into contrary direction handed down by his superiors. He would be protected under various whistleblower and employment laws in this scenario.

If you believe you’ve been wrongfully fired and would like to take legal action against your former employer, you should act quickly to ensure that you can report the wrongdoing and file your claim within your statute of limitations. Contact the team of attorneys at Dallas’s Whistleblower Law for Managers to understand your best steps moving forward.