Fired for speaking up? Our Dearborn whistleblower attorneys fight for truth and justice under Michigan’s Whistleblower Protection Act.

You did the right thing. You spoke up. You reported something illegal, unsafe, or unethical—and instead of being thanked, you were punished. Fired. Demoted. Shunned. Maybe your once-friendly coworkers stopped talking to you. Maybe management suddenly “restructured” your position. Or maybe you were flat-out told that speaking up was a “mistake.”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Every year, hardworking people in Dearborn and Metro Detroit face retaliation for reporting wrongdoing on the job. Whether it’s exposing fraud, discrimination, or safety violations, whistleblowers are often treated as the enemy by the very organizations they’re trying to protect.

At Marko Law, we stand with truth-tellers. We fight for those who have the courage to speak up when others stay silent. Led by award-winning civil rights attorney Jon Marko, our Detroit-based firm has earned a reputation for taking on—and beating—powerful institutions.

Jon Marko has secured record-breaking verdicts in Michigan, including an $11.6 million employment discrimination verdict against the Michigan Department of Corrections—the largest of its kind in state history. He knows what retaliation looks like and how to hold employers accountable under the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA).

When your integrity costs you your job, we make sure it doesn’t cost you your future.

Understanding the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA)

Michigan law protects employees who report—or plan to report—violations of law to a public body. This includes reporting illegal conduct to:

• Law enforcement agencies
• Government departments or officials
• Regulatory or investigative bodies
• Even internal management or HR in some cases

The Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) is designed to ensure that workers in both public and private sectors can raise concerns without fear of losing their livelihood.

Key protections under the WPA include:

• Employers cannot fire, demote, discipline, or otherwise retaliate against you for reporting unlawful activity.
• The law applies whether your report was made internally (inside your company) or externally (to government authorities).
• Employees have a strict 90-day deadline from the date of retaliation to file a claim—waiting too long can cost you your rights.

Remember: retaliation isn’t always obvious. It can start small—being left off emails, denied promotions, or suddenly criticized for your work. But these are signs that your employer may be violating the law.

At Marko Law, we know how to connect those dots—and we don’t back down until justice is done.

Common Examples of Whistleblower Retaliation

Retaliation can take many forms. It’s not just being fired—it’s the slow and calculated effort to silence and isolate you. Examples include:

• Wrongful termination after reporting illegal or unethical conduct
• Demotions, pay cuts, or removal from key projects
• Hostile work environments designed to pressure you to quit
• Negative performance reviews following your report
• Reassignment to undesirable shifts or remote locations
• Threats, harassment, or blacklisting within your industry

These tactics are meant to make you regret ever speaking up. But at Marko Law, we’ve seen it all—and we’ve fought it all.

In one landmark case, Jon Marko won an $11.6 million verdict for employees of the Michigan Department of Corrections who faced retaliation and discrimination after standing up to injustice. His team has gone head-to-head with state agencies, city governments, and corporations—and come out on top.

When you blow the whistle in Dearborn, you deserve more than protection. You deserve vindication.

How to Prove a Whistleblower Retaliation Claim in Michigan

Winning a whistleblower retaliation case under the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) isn’t just about telling your story—it’s about proving it. To succeed, you must establish three key elements:

1. You engaged in a protected activity.
   This means you either reported a violation of law or were about to report one to a public body or authority. Even if you planned to make a report but hadn’t yet done so, you may still be protected.
2. Your employer knew or suspected you did.
   The WPA only applies if your employer was aware—or reasonably believed—that you made or intended to make a report.
3. Your employer took an adverse action because of it.
   You’ll need to show a link between your whistleblowing and the retaliation—whether it’s termination, demotion, or more subtle punishment.

Evidence that strengthens your claim includes:

• Emails, text messages, or memos showing threats, retaliation, or sudden hostility.
• Witness statements from coworkers who saw how you were treated after reporting.
• Employment records documenting sudden disciplinary actions, schedule changes, or pay cuts.
• Performance reviews that drastically worsened after your report.

Retaliation doesn’t always happen overnight. Sometimes it’s a slow burn—a series of small, retaliatory acts meant to push you out or punish your integrity. Michigan courts recognize that patterns of retaliation are just as powerful as one big act of revenge.

At Marko Law, our team knows how to piece that pattern together and build a story the jury won’t forget. We’ve proven it again and again in courtrooms across Michigan.

What Damages Can Be Recovered Under the Whistleblower Protection Act

If your employer retaliated against you for doing the right thing, the law allows you to pursue significant compensation under the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act. Depending on your case, you may be entitled to recover:

• Lost wages and benefits: Compensation for the paychecks, bonuses, and benefits you lost due to retaliation.
• Emotional distress damages: For the stress, anxiety, and humiliation of being punished for your integrity.
• Attorney’s fees and legal costs: So that the burden of seeking justice doesn’t fall on you.
• Punitive damages: When your employer’s conduct was malicious or reckless (learn more about punitive damages at Cornell Law School).
• Job reinstatement or front pay: Restoring your position—or paying you what you would have earned if not for the retaliation.

Every case is different. Speak to a lawyer to understand your rights.

At Marko Law, we’ve helped clients recover not just compensation—but vindication. We know what it’s like to stand up against power and win. And we’re ready to do it for you.

What to Do If You Believe You’ve Been Retaliated Against

If you suspect you’re being punished for speaking up—act fast. Michigan’s Whistleblower Protection Act gives you powerful rights, but those rights come with strict deadlines. You only have 90 days from the date of the retaliatory act to file a claim. Miss that window, and your chance at justice could disappear.

Here’s what to do right now if you think you’ve been retaliated against:

1. Don’t resign without legal advice.
   Quitting can make your case harder to prove and may impact your ability to recover damages. Talk to an attorney first—there may be legal options to protect you before you walk away.
2. Gather all documentation and correspondence.
   Save every email, text, memo, or write-up that could show how your treatment changed after you spoke up. Screenshot conversations if necessary. Retaliation often hides in the paper trail.
3. Write down the timeline of events.
   Dates matter. Create a detailed record of what happened, when it happened, and who was involved. Even small details—like being left off a meeting invite or reassigned without explanation—can become critical evidence.
4. Contact a Dearborn whistleblower attorney immediately.
   The 90-day filing window under Michigan law is unforgiving. Waiting to “see how things play out” could cost you everything. Contacting a skilled whistleblower lawyer as soon as possible gives you the best chance to preserve your rights, collect evidence, and hold your employer accountable.

At Marko Law, our legal team has helped countless employees across Michigan protect themselves after retaliation. We know how to stop employer intimidation in its tracks—and we move fast.

You Spoke Up. They Retaliated. Now It’s Time to Fight Back.

You didn’t choose this fight—but now, you have a choice in how it ends.

At Marko Law, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with whistleblowers across Dearborn, Detroit, and all of Michigan who’ve been punished for doing what’s right. We’ve taken on state agencies, corporate giants, and city governments—and won.

Whether you’re a public employee who reported misconduct, a healthcare worker who raised safety concerns, or a corporate insider who refused to stay silent about fraud—you deserve protection, respect, and justice.

Our firm, led by civil rights and employment attorney Jon Marko, has earned national recognition for taking on high-stakes retaliation cases and achieving record-breaking verdicts. We don’t flinch when the other side fights back—and we never settle for less than full accountability.

📞 Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation
Phone: +1-313-777-7777
Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Website: www.markolaw.com