press release

Press Conference set for:
Thursday, May 8, 2003, 8:45 a.m.
Corner of Virginia and St. George Sts.
East Liverpool, Ohio

JUDGE ORDERS WTI TO REINSTATE WHISTLEBLOWER NOW

Federal judge Richard A. Morgan of the U.S. Department of Labor has ordered that VonRoll America "shall immediately reinstate" environmental whistleblower Donna Trueblood to her former job at the WTI hazardous waste incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio. The order came after VonRoll claimed that a prior reinstatement order was stayed by VonRoll's appeal.

Donna Trueblood has announced that she will present herself to WTI's front gate at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2003, ready, willing and able to return to work.

"It is time we put VonRoll to the test," said Richard Renner, Trueblood's attorney, "either they follow the law and will take Trueblood back, or they don't deserve the public trust they hold to continue operating a hazardous waste incinerator."

In the earlier decision issued on March 26, 2003, Judge Richard A. Morgan, of the U.S. Department of Labor, found that VonRoll America (VRA), had an "informal policy under which employees are to first report environmental compliance issues to management or their supervisors". Judge Morgan held that this policy is "unlawful." Judge Morgan's Decision also found that, "VRA employees who spoke out were the ones to incur VRA's wrath," and "The consensus in the plant is that you don't say anything or something will happen."

Donna Trueblood had worked on the drum crew at the incinerator from 1999 to October 25, 2002. Her duties included checking incoming waste, and noting discrepancies on Hazardous Waste Manifests -- the documents required for "cradle-to-grave" tracking of hazardous wastes.

In February, 2002, Trueblood reported environmental violations at WTI to the Ohio and U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA). Trueblood reported that VRA used an open-air parking lot owned by Heritage to store hazardous wastes. She also complained that VRA had accepted bromoform and 100% benzene, wastes it could not lawfully incinerate. On March 11, 2002, the WTI Plant Manager, Alfred Sigg, called Trueblood into his office. He questioned her about her reports to outside agencies.

On October 25, 2002, in the middle of an 11-day hearing on her case, VRA management fired her claiming her sick leave was four (4) hours over the 56-hour limit.

Judge Morgan's 60-page decision concluded that VRA, "brick-by-brick, built a record upon which to eventually base [Trueblood's] unlawful termination." Along the way, VRA's management "attempted to cover it up . . . by straying from the truth."

Judge Morgan determined that Trueblood was entitled to $50,000.00 in compensatory damages and $125,000.00 in exemplary damages.

Alonzo Spencer is a long-time opponent of the WTI incinerator and a member of Save Our County. Spencer said, "This decision is a vindication of all the efforts that we have put forth over these many years. The decision gives us incentive to continue our efforts against this unsafe, illegal and unwanted facility."

The decision is available on the attorney's web page, www.taterenner.com.

Dover, OH, May 7, 2003—

Return to Tate & Renner home page.
Read the Mourning Journal articles of 2003-05-08 or 2003-05-09
Read the East Liverpool Review article of 2003-05-09

Last updated 2003-05-10
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