Georgia Injury Lawyer Blog

The Georgia Whistleblower Act, codified under O.C.G.A. §45-1-4, protects public employees from wrongful termination or retaliation as a consequence of their 'whistleblowing' activity.

To summarize, the law states that a public employer cannot retaliate against a public employee for disclosing noncompliance or violation of a law, rule or regulation to a government agency or supervisor, or for refusing to participate in any policy, practice, or activity of the public employer that the employee has a reasonable cause to belief that noncompliance or a violation of the law, rule, or regulation is occurring.

What is retaliation? This could refer to a discharge, suspension, demotion, or any other adverse employment action taken by a public employer against the public employee in the terms of their employment.

If you are an employee who works for a public employer (an executive, judicial, or legislative branch of the state; any other department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other agency of the state which employs or appoints a public employee or public employees; or any local or regional governmental entity that receives any funds from the State of Georgia or any state agency O.C.G.A. § 45-1-4) then the Georgia Whistleblower Act may apply.

If in the event you experience any type of demotion, suspension, or discharge as a result of participating in protected whistleblowing activity, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible in order to protect your rights. A public employee may file an action against their employer within one year of discovering the retaliation or within three years of the retaliation.

Continue reading "Good Georgia Lawyer Discusses Georgia Whistleblower Act" »

On Saturday, February 4th, Julie Oinonen, Partner at Williams Oinonen LLC was a guest speaker at Covenant College, on Lookout Mt. Georgia where she spoke to Covenant students who are considering law school. Covenant College is a four year liberal arts Christian college on Lookout Mountain, Georgia of which Ms. Oinonen is an alumna. Ms. Oinonen shared with students tips on getting into the best law school, succeeding while you are there, and figuring out whether a law career is right for you. Ms. Oinonen particularly spoke of her profession as a calling and how her faith informs her practice.

Ms. Oinonen is a partner at Williams Oinonen LLC, a civil litigation firm that also provides political consulting, campaign strategy, and opponent research for election campaigns. This is her second time speaking at Covenant College within the past year as her law firm has made a special effort to reach out to pre-law students at the institution.

The two other alumni speakers at the event were Mr. Pete Johnson and Mr. Cal Marshall, both licensed attorneys in the state of Tennessee. Mr. Pete Johnson an attorney at his own firm, handles corporate, real estate, wills, construction and development law. Mr. Cal Marshall is an associate Chambliss Bahner and Stophel P.C. in Chattanooga where he practices business and health law, assisting clients on compliance with federal and state regulations and business planning.

Williams Oinonen LLC is currently planning to host Covenant College students on April 13th in Atlanta, Georgia where they will be given a tour of the state Capitol, downtown courthouses, luncheon at the Commerce Club, and tour of Emory University School of Law in the afternoon.

Ms. Oinonen is an alumna of Emory University School of Law and both she and her law partner, Mr. Mario Williams are Emory University law fellows with the Center of Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. Williams Oinonen LLC is the only law firm in Georgia that boasts having both law partners as current fellows at Emory University School of Law.

Said Ms Oinonen about her experience at Covenant College on February 4th: "It is always a privilege to be able to spend time with the students at Covenant College. They are thoughtful, engaging, intellectual thinkers who develop strong critical thinking skills, an important component for legal minds."