Former Hanford worker awarded $8 million in retaliation case

A Benton County Superior Court jury awarded $8.1 million to former Hanford manager Julie Atwood in a verdict Tuesday afternoon.

Atwood was forced to resign from Department of Energy contractor Mission Support Alliance in 2013.

She filed a civil lawsuit against Mission Support Alliance and one of its vice presidents, Steve Young, who also is the mayor of Kennewick.

The jury found that Mission Support Alliance had retaliated and discriminated against Atwood, and that Young had aided and abetted the retaliation and discrimination.

The verdict includes $2.1 million in lost wages and benefits, covering both past and potential future wages.

The remaining $6 million is for emotional harm.

Atwood’s attorney, Jack Sheridan of Seattle, sought damages only from Mission Support Alliance and not Young.

Mission Support Alliance’s attorney argued during the trial that the company had good reason to want Atwood off its payroll.

She was accused of creating a hostile work environment, abusing her relationship with an influential DOE employee and timecard fraud.

Sheridan countered that Mission Support Alliance leadership wanted Atwood gone to protect Young.

Atwood had said in an interview that she thought was confidential that Young was conducting city of Kennewick business during hours he was supposed to be working for the Hanford contractor and was being paid with taxpayer money.

Three days later she was told she was being fired, but resigned in an attempt to protect her reputation and pension, Sheridan said.

The attorney for Mission Support Alliance said Young made up time after hours when he conducted city business during work hours.