Jennifer King v. Delfasco, LLC

**What Happened** Jennifer King worked as a shipping and receiving coordinator for Delfasco, a company that makes defense-related products. King had a Department of Defense (DOD) password that gave her access to secure government systems. Her employer asked her to share this password with them, but King refused. The company then fired her. King sued, claiming she was wrongfully terminated for refusing to do something that would violate federal security rules. **What the Court Decided** The Tennessee appeals court ruled in King's favor. The court found that King was protected under the Tennessee Public Protection Act, which shields employees from being fired for refusing to break the law. Since sharing DOD security passwords would violate federal regulations, King had the right to refuse her employer's request. The trial court's decision to award damages to King was upheld. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces that Tennessee workers cannot be legally fired for refusing to do something illegal, even if their boss demands it. If your employer asks you to violate laws or regulations—especially security or safety rules—you have legal protection against retaliation. Workers should know they can stand up to illegal requests without losing their job protection under state law.