Aug. 4, 2025
California Supreme Court to decide if fired workers can sue employers for defamation
A Napa County jury awarded $2.1 million to a PG&E lineman who said he was defamed after raising wildfire safety concerns. Although a state appellate court reversed, calling the defamation theory a backdoor attempt at wrongful termination, the California Supreme Court has agreed to review the case, which could reshape employer liability for post-firing statements.
A PG&E lineman said his warnings that company equipment could cause wildfires led to backlash and lies about falsified timecards that cost him his job. He won a $2.1 million defamation award from a Napa County jury, even though the jury rejected his whistleblower retaliation claims.
A state appellate panel reversed, holding 2-1 that the lineman's "claim for defamation is a claim for wrongful termination by another name."
Now the case has arrived at the ...
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