In the summer of 2009, Johnson began working as a construction supervisor for Technologists in Herat. In January 2010, Johnson was told to collect a “progress” payment for work that had not actually been completed. He told his bosses that he would not do so because it would be illegal. Other employees of the company told Johnson that Technologists has a habit of getting “progress” payments from the Corps of Engineers, but instead of finishing the work, it applies the funding towards other projects. Johnson also asserts that the company uses inferior materials on its projects for the government.

 

Johnson reported the false report situation to the Corps of Engineers project engineer, after which Technologists demoted and then terminated him. He claims that his termination violated the retaliation clause of the False Claims Act, which was passed by Congress in 1863 to counter dubious practices by defense contractors during the Civil War. He is asking $100,000 to cover lost wages, benefits and legal fees.

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

This is Afghanistan (by Cameron Langford, Courthouse News Service)

Robert Johnson v. Technologists Inc. (District Court, Bexar County, Texas) (pdf)