Mississippi Whistleblower Law
Whistleblowers protected under a narrow common law “public policy” tort.
Court Decisions:
- DeCarlo v. Bonus Stores, Inc., 989 So.2d 351 (Miss. 2008)
- Zeigler v. University of Mississippi, 877 F.Supp.2d 454 (S.D. Miss. 2012) (federal court held that employee must show that he or she reported actual violation of law to obtain protection under state common law)
- Galle v. Isle of Capri Casinos, 180 So.3d 619 (Miss. 2015) (public policy exception is narrow)
Statute:
- MS Code § 25-9-171–177 (public employees)
- MS Code § 7-5-307 (investigations)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mississippi have a False Claims Act (FCA)?
No.
Does the Mississippi FCA have a whistleblower provision?
N/A.
Does Mississippi recognize the public policy exception for wrongful termination?
Yes, narrowly. An employer in Mississippi may not fire an employee for a reason that is contrary to the public policy of Mississippi.
