Whistleblower Protection Blog : Whistleblower Lawyer & Attorney : National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund : Whistleblower Protection, Fraud Claims : Washington DC

 Estelle S. Kohn

May 2, 1953 - April 10, 2013

Estelle Kohn was dedicated to and passionate about educating the public on whistleblower protection issues. She served as the Deputy Director of the National Whistleblower Center and the National Whistleblower Legal Defense and Education Fund for the last ten years.  In this role she built a world-renowned public education program that includes a highly respected public interest student intern program that brings over 60 students each year to Washington, D.C., to work with experienced licensed attorneys in the field of whistleblower law and advocacy.

Ms. Kohn was also instrumental in the development and coordination of the NWC's educational seminars that have been held throughout the United States. In addition, she established a program with the U.S. State Department in which international delegations visit the NWC to learn about U.S. whistleblower protection laws as they try to develop whistleblower protections in their own countries. Ms. Kohn also ran the NWC Speaker's Bureau, which sent speakers around the world to educate the public on whistleblower protection issues.

Ms. Kohn also oversaw the NWLDEF's Attorney Referral Service. In this role she worked directly with thousands of whistleblowers to help find experienced whistleblower attorneys to represent them.

Estelle Kohn was also a loving daughter, devoted sister and dedicated friend.  She will be missed greatly by all who were fortunate enough to have known and worked with her.

Always so true, unselfish and kind.

Few in this world are equal to find;

A beautiful life that came to an end.

She died, as she lived

Everyone's friend.

There will be a memorial service on April 21, 2013 at the Quaker Meeting Room, Sidwell Friends Upper School, 3825 Wisconsin Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C.  20016 between 12 noon and 2pm. 

Contact mjw@whistleblowers.org. 

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The National Whistleblower Center is reporting that the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Department of Defense have approved new rules governing federal contracting which go into effect today.

For the full story on the NWC website, and to read the rules, Click Here.

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Yesterday the Government Accountability Office, which is responsible for overseeing wasteful spending in the federal government, issued a 66 page report (see the summary here, with link to the full report) concluding that the Treasury Department and Congress have not done enough to prevent waste, fraud and abuse in the $700 Billion bailout bill passed in October:
 

"Treasury has yet to address a number of critical issues, including determining how it will ensure that CPP is achieving its intended goals and monitoring compliance with limitations on executive compensation and dividend payments. Moreover, further actions are needed to formalize transition planning efforts and establish an effective management structure and an essential system of internal control. To help ensure the program's integrity, accountability, and transparency"
 

Although this report does not recommend specific legislative proposals, the best thing that Congress could do to stem financial misconduct and waste is simple...protect whistleblowers.


In September, the National Whistleblowers Center joined with over 200 other public interest organizations in calling for Congress to include whistleblower protections in the bailout legislation. Yet, Congress failed to act.
 

The GAO calls for several reforms in the administration of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) -- which is responsible for doling out the billions -- but whistleblower protection should be the centerpiece of any reform package, as it is a necessary prerequisite for these reforms to work. Without protecting the whistleblowers who report misconduct, other reforms are doomed to fail. Two recent studies, one by PriceWaterhouseCooper, the internationally respected auditing agency, and another by the University of Chicago, both found that whistleblowers are the #1 way to ferret out corporate fraud.
 

Also ABC News ran this story on the need for corporate whistleblower protection in the wake of the bailout.

Let's not forget that it was corporate greed and lack of oversight that got us into this financial mess, and that is precisely why Congress, the administration (and the next administration) should take decisive action, now.

Show your support! Digg this blog post here

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For our readers in DC:

This Tuesday the National Press Club is hosting their annual book fair. Admission is $5 for the general public, and you can meet US Army Corps of Engineers Whistleblower Bunnatine Greenhouse! See below for details.

Click Here to view the full-size image in PDF.

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In September, as Congress was racing to put together the Wall Street bailout legislation, the National Whistleblower Center was calling for whistleblower protections to be added to the bill. Despite their efforts, Congress did not listen. They authorized the Administration to distribute $700 Billion of taxpayer money, but refused to protect employee whistleblowers who would ensure that it would be spent correctly.

ABC News has this story detailing how the Administration and Congress have done nothing to exercise oversight while the Administration is doling out billions of bailout dollars. But, even if these measures (appointing an inspector general, and setting up a congressional oversight committee) were to materialize, they still will not be effective unless we protect employees who would step forward to report the fraud.

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On November 21 the National Whistleblowers Center will be holding an attorney training seminar at the historic Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. This full-day seminar will focus on America's newest whistleblower laws which were passed as part of the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act of 2008.

For a full agenda and registration information, visit the NWC website HERE

For more information on the CPSC Reform Act, CLICK HERE

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The National Whistleblower Center is reporting success with their international training initiative. NWC President Stephen Kohn recently met with government leaders in Hungary, and as a direct result, their Justice Minister has announced a new initiative to develop effective whistleblower protections for their workers.

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It has become apparent that Scott Bloch, head of the Office of Special Counsel, was fired by the Bush Administration. This decision comes more than five months after Bloch became the target of an federal obstruction of  justice probe. Bloch's tenure has been a tumultuous one, and federal government whistleblowers have paid a heavy price.

The National Whistleblower Center's President, Stephen M. Kohn, issued the following statement upon the termination of Special Counsel Scott Bloch:

"The termination of Special Counsel Scott Bloch represents the low point in the history of the Office of Special Counsel. Originally intended to protect whistleblowers, the Office has never fulfilled its promise. Since its inception, the Office has ignored or ruled against the overwhelming majority of federal employee whistleblowers. The institution itself has never acted as a "safe harbor" for whistleblowers. Under Special Counsel Bloch, the Office imploded. Ignoring its mission to protect whistleblowers, the management of the OSC turned on its own staff."

"Change must come to the OSC and it must come fast. We call upon the new President and Congress to ensure that the position of Special Counsel be filled by a truly experienced and competent advocate for whistleblowers. Moreover, Congress and the President must act in a bi-partisan manner to ensure that never again will the Office be politicized and used as a patronage slot. The problem rests with both the President and Congress. Historically, Congress has failed to exercise any oversight concerning the appointment of the Special Counsel. That must end. This position is critically important for the enforcement of federal laws and the protection of taxpayer dollars. Employees risk their careers to do the right thing and report misconduct and abuses of power. The new President must do the right thing and appoint a Special Counsel who can protect these American heroes. Congress must do its job and demand that the next Special Counsel has the background, experience and expertise demanded under the Whistleblower Protection Act."

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The African-American Environmentalist blog has reported on discussions suggesting that Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo might be a pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Dr. Coleman-Adebayo joined the EPA as an African affairs specialist in 1990. She has 18 years experience at the agency and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1996, she blew the whistle on an American company harming the South African environment with its vanadium mining. She suffered harassment and discrimination, and she blew the whistle on that, too. In 2000, a federal jury awarded her $600,000 in damages. When the EPA had the Department of Justice pay the award, she founded the No FEAR Coalition and helped enact the "Notification of Federal Employees Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act," the first Civil Rights Law of the 21st Century. Dr. Coleman- Adebayo is also a Board Member of the National Whistleblower Center.

"Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo would be an excellent administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)," says the African American Environmentalist blog. 

 
http://aaenvironment.blogspot.com/2008/08/dr-marsha-coleman-adebayo-next-epa.html

The blog continues:

Dr. Coleman-Adebayo is bipartisan and worked with Republicans (James Sensenbrenner and John Warner) and Democrats (Sheila Jackson-Lee and Joe Lieberman) to get national legislation passed [NO FEAR Act of 2002], which was signed by President Bush on May 15, 2002. Either Senator Barack Obama or Senator John McCain would be well served to appoint Dr. Adebayo as EPA administrator when one of them becomes president. 

We are only too happy to agree.

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Today the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. The court's decision will decide whether employees who participate in an internal company investigation are protected by law.

The National Whistleblowers Center has more information on this case, including the briefs filed by both parties. Click here to read the press release on their brand new website!

UPDATE: HERE IS A LINK TO THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE SUPREME COURT ORAL ARGUMENTS

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