HOUSTON – The former CEO of a local telecommunications company asserts that he was terminated for whistleblowing.
In a lawsuit filed against enTouch Systems, Inc. on Sept. 18 in the Harris County 113th District Court, J. Lyn Findley explains that the defendant retaliated against him after he expressed his refusal to commit an illegal act under state law.
Findley served as the defendant’s CEO from late 2013 to late 2017. He and the company had a written employment contract that called for him to be paid six months’ severance if he is terminated without cause.
Court papers state that enTouch failed to sell itself to the Dr. Peng Group, a major Chinese telecommunications company last year when government regulators declined the transaction. Another company, Acme Communications, Inc., approached the respondent and made a successful offer.
The original petition says Findley had concerns that the “generically named” Acme could be a front for the Dr. Peng Group, which could mean criminal prosecution for enTouch executives.
According to the suit, the plaintiff reported these concerns to his superior and was “promptly” fired.
Consequently, Findley seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by Benjamin F. Foster and Douglas Salisbury of the law firm Foster Salisbury PLLC in Houston.
Harris County 113th District Court Case No. 2018-65570