Whistleblower Retaliation Against Public Employees

When Government Employees Are Punished for Telling the Truth, We Bring the Reckoning.

Public employees, contractors, and agents play a critical role in protecting Missouri and Kansas communities. When they report illegal activity, misuse of public funds, abuse of authority, threats to public safety, or violations of law, they perform a service not just for their agency—but for every citizen.

Missouri law recognizes this.

And Missouri Statute §105.055 protects them.

When a government agency retaliates—through termination, demotion, change in work or job duties, harassment, transfer, or intimidation—because an employee, agent, or contractor exposed wrongdoing, the law is clear: that retaliation is unlawful. And we are here to ensure those responsible face consequences.

At Baldwin & Vernon Trial Attorneys, we stand with public servants who had the courage to speak up and suffered for it. Whether you work for a city, county, public school district, sheriff’s department, state agency, or any governmental unit, your rights are protected—and retaliation will not stand unanswered.

What Qualifies as Protected Whistleblowing Under §105.055?

The statute shields public employees who make a good-faith report of:

• Violations of law

• Gross mismanagement

• Misuse or theft of public funds

• Abuse of authority

• Substantial and specific risks to public health or safety

• Fraud or corruption

• Violations of regulations or policies designed to protect the public

Reports can be internal or external, written or verbal, made to supervisors, compliance officers, auditors, or law enforcement.

If you told the truth, the law protects you.

If they retaliated, we hold them accountable.

What Retaliation Looks Like in Public Agencies

Retaliation can be sudden or subtle, but it is always serious.

We regularly see:

• Termination or forced resignation

• Demotion, suspension, or loss of duties

• Unwarranted discipline or negative evaluations

• Transfers to undesirable shifts or locations

• Exclusion, isolation, or harassment

• Blocking promotions or advancement

• Threats—spoken or implied

Government employers often attempt to bury retaliation behind “policy reasons,” “restructuring,” or “performance concerns.” We uncover the truth they are trying to hide.

Our Approach: Trial-Ready From Day One

These cases are complex—often involving public records, internal politics, power hierarchies, and overlapping laws.

We handle them with the seriousness they demand.

Government defendants are often confident, well-resourced, and resistant to accountability.

We meet them with relentless preparation and a willingness to take the case to trial.

What’s at Stake for Whistleblowers

A government employer’s retaliation can damage more than a career—it can damage a reputation, disrupt a livelihood, and discourage others from reporting wrongdoing.

We pursue compensation for:

• Lost wages and benefits

• Emotional distress

• Damage to reputation

• Future lost earnings

• Attorney’s fees with trial verdict in Plaintiff’s favor

More importantly:

We seek public accountability.

Your case doesn’t just help you—it protects future whistleblowers and strengthens public trust.

You Defended the Public. Now Let Us Defend You.

When the government retaliates against truth-tellers, we bring Justice through a Reckoning.