Woodforest National Bank Must Face Ex-Exec’s Retaliation Suit

A former employee’s claim that Woodforest National Bank Inc. illegally retaliated against him for complaining the bank didn’t protect him from a disgruntled person’s threats survived the bank’s bid to dismiss the case.

Stuart Forsyth is alleging that the bank terminated him after he said it violated the US Occupational Health and Safety Adminstration’s General Duty Clause, under which employers must maintain workplaces without harmful hazards.

Woodforest moved to dismiss Forsyth’s retaliation claim under Florida’s Private Whistleblower Act. The bank argued Forsyth can’t prove it violated the federal workplace safety law.

It’s too early in the case to decide the proper ...