The household of a former Boeing worker who took his personal life final 12 months after elevating quite a few considerations in regards to the firm’s manufacturing requirements is now suing the aerospace large, alleging John Barnett was subjected to “harassment, abuse and intimidation” by the corporate.
The wrongful loss of life lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court docket in South Carolina.
Barnett, a former Boeing high quality supervisor, died March 9, 2024, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a car parked at a Vacation Inn in Charleston. His loss of life was dominated a suicide by the Charleston County Coroner’s workplace.
The outside of the Boeing Firm headquarters is seen on March 25, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia. (Picture by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs)
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs
On the time of his loss of life, Barnett was actively engaged in a whistleblower criticism in opposition to the corporate.
The lawsuit filed by Barnett’s household alleges Boeing “meant to discourage, discredit, and humiliate him till he would both hand over or be discredited,” after he raised high quality management considerations on the firm.
The criticism additionally alleges that Barnett suffered from “PTSD, melancholy, and anxiousness” because of the harassment and maltreatment by Boeing, which the lawsuit says led to his premature loss of life.
The household is submitting claims for wrongful loss of life, abuse of course of and retaliation. They’re looking for damages for pecuniary loss, psychological struggling and grief, in addition to punitive damages and funeral and burial bills, per the lawsuit. The plaintiffs have requested a jury trial.
In a press release to ABC, Boeing mentioned, “We’re saddened by John Barnett’s loss of life and lengthen our condolences to his household.”
Barnett, who labored for Boeing for 32 years, initially filed his whistleblower criticism shortly after his retirement from the corporate in 2017. He got here ahead publicly in 2019 when he and different former Boeing staff took half in interviews with The New York Instances. Barnett and others accused Boeing of prioritizing earnings over security.
Boeing denied all of Barnett’s allegations — together with claims the corporate put earnings over security.
“Questions of safety are instantly investigated, and modifications are made wherever essential,” mentioned a Boeing spokesperson on the time of his lawsuit.
If you happen to or somebody you realize are experiencing suicidal, substance use or different psychological well being crises please name or textual content 988. You’ll attain a skilled disaster counselor totally free, 24 hours a day, seven days every week. You may also go to 988lifeline.org.
ABC Information’ Jack Moore contributed to this report.
