WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A judge tossed a whistleblower lawsuit against Maui County from a former liquor control officer trainee. ADVERTISING WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A judge tossed a whistleblower lawsuit against Maui County from a former liquor control officer
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A judge tossed a whistleblower lawsuit against Maui County from a former liquor control officer trainee.
Justin Dobbs said he plans to keep pursuing the case.
“I’m completely shocked,” he said of the judge’s decision.
The lawsuit alleges Dobbs was fired in 2011 over his complaints about illegal and unethical activities at the Department of Liquor Control.
Judge Peter Cahill dismissed the lawsuit June 24.
A county news release last week said the judge dismissed the case because Dobbs had no evidence to support his claim and the county fired him on legitimate grounds.
The county says Dobbs was fired after an investigation found he physically threatened co-workers, had been insubordinate and tried to get special treatment at a business licensed to sell liquor.
Dobbs has denied the investigation’s findings.
Now a California resident, Dobbs said his lawyer was not at the June 24 hearing. He said without a legal adviser, he didn’t understand why the lawsuit was tossed. “They didn’t have grounds to fire me,” Dobbs said.
The lawsuit’s claims against a retired department director and three workers also were dismissed.
Dobbs was seeking a return to his job, back pay and benefits, and unspecified damages.
