Trulieve Whistleblower’s Settlement: A Closer Look at the Case’s Resolution

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Trulieve Whistleblowers settlement
Located at 2121 W Orange Blossom Trail, the Apopka dispensary opens at 9am on Saturday, July 9, 2022.

Trulieve, a leading cannabis company in the U.S., and former employee Natchez Dickey have reached a settlement to conclude Dickey’s allegations of wrongful termination linked to his whistleblowing activities. The resolution was documented in a Florida federal court, highlighting the end of a contentious legal battle that accused Trulieve of multiple violations including Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and Florida laws.

Allegations and Claims

Dickey, who was employed by Trulieve from November 2018 until July 2022, held the position of post-harvest manager. His responsibilities included oversight of drying rooms and managing the processing or packaging of cannabis products. The crux of Dickey’s lawsuit began with his reports in October 2021 concerning numerous safety violations within the company.

According to the lawsuit, Dickey’s initial internal reports were overlooked, prompting him to escalate the issues to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Among the reported violations was a significant safety concern involving improper ventilation during flooring repairs, leading to employee illnesses and exposure of cannabis products to toxic chemicals.