In a private settlement, the former manager’s family would get $50,000; the case highlighted Boeing’s safety culture.
The family of former quality control manager and whistleblower John Barnett, who committed himself in March 2024, filed a wrongful death case against Boeing Co., and the company has struck a settlement. According to Reuters, the agreement, which was submitted to a federal court in South Carolina, calls for a minimum payment of $50,000, with a portion going toward legal bills and the remainder for Barnett’s family.
A federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, still has to approve the deal.
John Barnett was who?
Barnett left Boeing in 2017 after 32 years of service. While employed at the company’s 787 Dreamliner facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, he gained notoriety for voicing safety concerns over the methods used in the manufacture of airplanes.
At the time of his death, he was pursuing a separate case alleging that Boeing had retaliated against him for raising the alarm. While giving a deposition in the lawsuit, Barnett committed suicide in March 2024.
The complaint is findings
In the wrongful death lawsuit, Barnett’s mother accused Boeing of being involved in her son’s demise. The agreement settles:
– The allegation of wrongful death
– The retaliation case Barnett filed as a whistleblower prior to his death
– Every associated claim that is still active against Boeing
According to the Reuters article, court documents characterize the settlement as “full, final, and private,” leaving open the prospect of more hidden stipulations beyond the $50,000 compensation.
Boeing’s reaction
Boeing offered their sympathies but denied any involvement in Barnett’s death.
In a statement, the business expressed its sadness over Mr. Barnett’s passing and offered its sympathies to his family as it came to this conclusion. It also mentioned that it had taken action “many years ago to assess and resolve the concerns that Mr. Barnett presented.”