There is a new whistleblower at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southeast Washington, but it doesn’t have to do with technical concerns.
It’s the latest twist in an ongoing timecard fraud case.
Grace Randazzo worked as a paralegal for the contractor CH2M Hill in its Denver office for more than 10 years. Starting in June 2011 she claims she experienced retaliation for trying to pull documents for a query from the federal Department of Justice. Investigators suspected the company was doling out kickbacks for Hanford contracts.
Randazzo, in her legal complaint, says her direct supervisor pressured her, blocked document collection and disclosure and closed her out of important meetings and information at work.
The documents also state her supervisor discouraged her from taking leave to attend to her dying mother. She was fired in October 2011.
Randazzo is asking for double back pay with interest, emotional distress damages and litigation fees.
CH2M Hill didn’t respond for requests for comment.
