McGlothen v. City of Fairborn

**McGlothen v. City of Fairborn: Court Rules Against Fired Building Inspector** A building inspector named McGlothen sued the City of Fairborn after being fired, claiming he was terminated for following Ohio Building Code requirements. McGlothen argued that his termination violated public policy because he was doing his job properly by enforcing building safety standards as required by state law. The Ohio Court of Appeals ruled against McGlothen. The court found that the specific sections of the Ohio Building Code he referenced did not clearly establish a public policy that would protect employees from retaliation. The judges determined that these code sections simply outlined technical building requirements but didn't express a clear policy preventing employers from firing workers who enforce them. **What This Means for Workers:** This decision shows how difficult it can be to prove wrongful termination based on public policy violations. Workers cannot automatically assume they are protected from firing just because they follow state regulations or codes in their jobs. To successfully claim wrongful termination for following public policy, the law must clearly state that employees should be protected from retaliation. Workers in similar situations should carefully review whether the specific laws they're following explicitly protect employees from being fired for compliance.