Florida whistleblower files suit against former employer

By Erik Ricasa

Published on July 22, 2005

David Rosenthal says he was fired from West-Hem Aircraft Supplies the day after agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement raided the company's office.

Under the False Claims Act's whistleblower protection clause, employees who aid authorities in uncovering employer's illegal activities are safeguarded from harassment, demotion, or wrongful termination.

West Hem's former president, Russell Mazer, was arrested about two weeks after the raid took place. He was accused of paying $5,000 for confidential blueprints for tools that can be used to repair military and commercial jet engines.

A Pratt & Whitney contract employee in Connecticut illegally sold the drawings to Mazer. Company representatives valued the blueprints at more than $1 million. Both men plead guilty to charges against them.

Rosenthal assisted state investigators by providing a set of the blueprints, a layout of the office, and an explanation of the scheme.

According to Rosenthal's qui tam suit, Mazer blamed him for the arrest and said he would "take care of him."

Mazer's attorneys said their client had no comment on the lawsuit and no longer has anything to do with West Hem.

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