Although Darryl McKnight’s former employer insists he was fired for problems on the job, it was obvious to a jury that once he brought the illegal manufacture of gun silencers to the attention of the company’s human resources office, things started to go downhill fast and he was soon fired.
WHISTLEBLOWER WINS $125,000 IN SUIT OVER AK-47 SILENCERS
By L.M. Sixel
Houston Chronicle
June 1, 2013
A Harris County jury has found that an oil and gas manufacturing company terminated an employee for blowing the whistle on a supervisor who was making silencers designed for AK-47 assault rifles.
Earlier this week, the jury awarded machinist Darryl McKnight $125,000 in past and future earnings. He claimed he was fired after he went to the human resources manager at Team Industrial Services to complain that his supervisor had asked him to participate in making the silencers.
Barry Flynn, who represents Team Industrial, said his client terminated McKnight for insubordination, aggressiveness toward his supervisors and job abandonment.
"We intend to ask the judge to disregard the verdict and give him nothing," said Flynn, of Gordon & Rees in Houston. The three-day case was heard by state District Judge Larry Weiman.
W. Craft Hughes of Hughes Ellzey in Houston, who is representing McKnight, said the machinist became suspicious after spotting unusual aluminum shavings in his work area and went to his boss to find out what was going on.
The boss offered to let McKnight participate in the manufacturing of the silencers, but McKnight, who was on probation for misdemeanor assault, refused. Hughes said his client later took pictures to keep as evidence and then started getting written up.
He said McKnight told the jury he sensed the company was looking for a reason to get rid of him.
"He could see it coming," Hughes said.
One Monday morning, Hughes said, McKnight drove to the human resources department in Alvin and asked for a meeting. After he showed the photos to a human resources representative, McKnight said, he was told his services were no longer needed.
The jury deliberated for two hours and awarded him more than the $60,000 he had requested.
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