FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2024
Trial Date Set in WSDOT Whistleblower Lawsuit
Trial scheduling occurred after CADF’s win against WSDOT’s Motion to Dismiss earlier this year
Olympia, Washington — October 1, 2024 — A trial date has been set in the WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) whistleblower lawsuit, brought by the Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) on behalf client Scott Smith. The trial has been scheduled for August 18, 2025 in Thurston County Superior Court. The parties are proceeding with discovery, which according to the scheduling order, will need to be completed in March of 2025.
Motion to Dismiss: CADF Win
Earlier this year, WSDOT filed a Motion to Dismiss, attempting to stop the lawsuit from moving forward. Unfortunately for them, Judge Egeler ruled in CADF’s favor, stating that she found legal merit to the case. CADF Executive Director Jackson Maynard argued the motion for Smith and CADF.
Background
In March 2024, CADF filed the whistleblower lawsuit on behalf of Smith, a state employee who refused to lie about cap-and-trade fuel costs. Smith was pressured by WSDOT to change the numbers in his fuel estimates and reports so that they wouldn’t indicate that the cap-and-trade program was significantly impacting the cost of fuel.
This pressure was applied right as the Governor was publicly blaming and accusing the fuel industry of lying about the cost of his program. When Smith refused to change his estimate to fit Governor Inslee’s narrative – which was dictated by simple math – he was forced out of state service.
“We are pleased that the case is proceeding and for the opportunity to try this matter before a jury next summer,” said Jackson Maynard, Executive Director and Counsel for the Citizen Action Defense Fund. “The state pushed our client out of state service for serving his role with integrity, and that is why we are proud to be here fighting for WSDOT to be held accountable.”
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For more information:
Jackson Maynard
Executive Director, Citizen Action Defense Fund
Cell: (850) 519-3495
Email: [email protected]