Jeffrey Clay Davis v. Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Case Number
M2019-01860-COA-R3-CV

A medical center employee sued the medical center under the Tennessee Public Protection Act (“the TPPA”) asserting that his employment was terminated because he refused to remain silent about the medical center’s failure to enact policies to safeguard its employees from workplace violence. The medical center moved to dismiss the employee’s complaint for failure to state a claim, and the trial court granted the motion. We conclude that the employee’s complaint satisfies the TPPA’s “illegal act” requirement because it alleges the violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause and describes activities that implicate important public policy concerns. Therefore, we reverse the trial court’s dismissal.

Authoring Judge
Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge
Chancellor Anne C. Martin
Case Name
Jeffrey Clay Davis v. Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Date Filed
Dissent or Concur
No
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