A Washington state judge yesterday dismissed a lawsuit filed by Walt Tamosaitis, a former contractor official at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, against Bechtel National over allegations that Bechtel had interfered with his work on the WTP project. In a decision that ran slightly longer than one page, Judge Craig Matheson granted Bechtel National’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing Tamosaitis’ suit against the contractor and several named executives. The ruling came one day after Matheson heard arguments from attorneys for both sides on Bechtel’s motion.
Tamosaitis, who is an employee for WTP subcontractor URS, previously held the position of research and technology manager at the Hanford vit plant. In the summer of 2010, Tamosaitis alleged he was removed from the WTP for raising safety concerns—allegations that have been strongly denied by both Bechtel National and URS, which have countered by saying his departure from the project had been in the works for months before it occurred. In his suit against Bechtel National, Tamosaitis had accused the contractor of interfering with his expectancy of future work at the WTP. In its motion, though, Bechtel National had challenged Tamosaitis’ suit on several fronts, including by arguing that he continues to be employed by URS and could not demonstrate any economic damages.
Tamosaitis’ attorney, Jack Sheridan, said last night that his client will appeal the ruling. “In cutting edge whistleblower litigation like this, it is not uncommon to have to bring issues to the appellate courts for review before getting to trial. We think that this case is strong under Washington law and that the appellate courts will agree with us,” Sheridan said in a written response, adding that “it may take a year before we get back.” Tamosaitis has a separate lawsuit still pending in federal court against URS and the Department of Energy.