Judge Finds No Evidence to Support Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Maui County

News Release from County of Maui July 7, 2016

Wailuku, Maui - A Second Circuit Court Judge has dismissed a lawsuit from a former County employee, who alleged that he had been retaliated against by his workplace.

Justin Dobbs was a former Liquor Control Officer Trainee with the Department of Liquor when he was fired in 2011. An investigation showed that he had physically threatened his fellow employees, been insubordinate, attempted to use his position as a Liquor Control Officer to obtain special treatment from a licensed liquor establishment as well as committed other infractions.

After he was fired Dobbs filed a counter-lawsuit which alleged he was a "whistleblower" against the department and had been terminated in retaliation.

After four years of active litigation, on June 24, 2016 Judge Peter Cahill dismissed Dobbs' lawsuit finding that he had no evidence to support his claim and that the county had fired him on legitimate grounds.

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2012 Maui Time: An Open Letter To FBI Honolulu Division Special Agent in Charge Vida Bottom Concerning Former LC Inspector Justin Dobbs’ Lawsuit Against the County of Maui

2012 Maui News: Misconduct by liquor control supervisors in field, suit says

2015 KHON: Lawsuit alleging misconduct in Maui’s Liquor Control Dept. returns to court