Settlement Reached In Delray Beach Water Contamination Case
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2023
CONTACT: Danielle Strasburger, 512 879 7653
danielle@newheightcommunications.com
Settlement Reached in Delray Beach
Water Contamination Whistleblower Case
Delray Beach reaches $818,500 settlement with wastewater inspector who faced retaliation after blowing whistle
Delray Beach, Florida (April 5, 2023) – The City of Delray Beach and Christine Ferrigan, a former Delray Beach Industrial Pretreatment Inspector, reached a settlement to resolve Ferrigan’s whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against the city. Ferrigan sued the city in 2022 on the grounds that she was terminated from her position after having blown the whistle on wastewater contaminating Delray Beach’s drinking water. The settlement agreement is for $818,500.
“Today’s settlement is about more than me — it’s about whistleblowers everywhere who are standing up for community safety,” said Ferrigan. “The people of Delray Beach, and people everywhere, deserve clean water and to know when their health is at risk. I hope today’s settlement will encourage potential whistleblowers everywhere to speak up and know their legal protections.”
“Christine Ferrigan took courageous action by blowing the whistle on dangerous water contamination in Delray Beach. Ms. Ferrigan’s concerns about water contamination were validated by the Florida Department of Health and the Palm Beach County Office of Inspector General, but instead of rewarding her for her commitment to public health, the City of Delray Beach fired her. Today’s settlement is a step towards justice for Ms. Ferrigan, for the citizens of Delray Beach, and for whistleblowers and public health advocates everywhere,” said Ferrigan’s lawyers.
Ferrigan is represented by Richard Condit, Cleveland Lawrence III and Ezra Bronstein of Mehri & Skalet PLLC. Leslie M. Kroeger and Rachael N. Flanagan of Cohen Milstein served as local counsel.
The settlement agreement will go before the Delray Beach City Commissioners for approval at their April 18 Commission meeting.
###