Family Independence Agency ruled immune from liability for allegedly firing employee who refused to violate Federal law

Jack H. Kaufman, M.D., sued the FIA after it refused to renew his contract as a medical consultant.  Kaufman alleged that his contract was not renewed because he refused to violate existing law in his reviews of FIA claimants' medical records.  While it is undisputed that an employee cannot be fired for refusing to violate the law, this prohibition is irrelevant when a government employee is involved:  the court ruled that the governmental agency enjoys complete immunity for the wrongful discharge.  The Michigan Supreme Court has explicitly refused to abrogate governmental immunity where a public employee is allegedly fired for refusing to violate the law.