Fired West Virginia Nurse Awarded $1M in Whistleblower Suit

A former hospital nurse has been awarded more than $1 million in a lawsuit that claimed she was fired for expressing concerns of possible violations.

A Kanawha County Circuit Court jury made the award Thursday after a nine-day trial to Susan Nutter, who worked at Thomas Hospital’s psychiatric unit from August 2008 to November 2009.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports the jury found the hospital wrongfully fired Nutter, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, defamed her when it reported patient chart discrepancies to a nurse licensing board, and failed to properly pay her charge nurse wages.

Her attorney, Marvin Masters, testified Nutter reported nurses calling in prescriptions without a doctor’s permission and other concerns.

Hospital attorney Bryan Cokeley disputed the whistleblower claims in court and declined comment on the verdict.