The Firm recently achieved a significant victory on behalf of employees in the District of Columbia. In Monroe v. Voca Corp. of Washington, DC (Consolidated Appeal Nos. 05-CV-778 and 05-CV-803), the D.C. Court of Appeals extended the cause of action for wrongful termination in violation of public policy to employees who are not at-will employees and employees covered by a protective bargaining agreement.

The case involves allegations that the Firm’s clients were terminated by VOCA Corp., which managed group homes for persons with severe mental retardation, shortly after they complained about conditions and treatment of residents at three different group homes.

The Court of Appeals’ decision marks an important expansion of the wrongful termination in violation of public policy cause of action and should protect many more District of Columbia employees who are terminated for their refusal to participate in unlawful actions at the behest of their employers. Les Alderman argued the case on behalf the terminated employees.