Boeing settles lawsuit on wrongful death claim related to deceased whistleblower

The Boeing logo is displayed at the company's factory, Sept. 24, 2024, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Boeing (BA.N) filed a settlement on Friday in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the mother of John Barnett, a former Boeing worker who raised concerns about the planemaker’s production that was potentially putting passengers at risk.

In the settlement filed in the U.S. District Court in South Carolina, Boeing agreed to pay at least US$50,000 to Barnett’s mother, who agreed to drop her claims that the company contributed to her son’s death by suicide on March 9, 2024.

At the time of his death, Barnett was in the middle of a deposition in a whistleblower retaliation case against Boeing. He spent 32 years at the company before leaving in 2017. After leaving the company, Barnett accused Boeing management of mistreating him in retribution for raising concerns.

The settlement also includes undisclosed terms resolving the retaliation claim, which Barnett’s mother pursued on his behalf.

Boeing, in a statement, said: “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s death and extend our condolences to his family as we reach this resolution. Boeing took actions several years ago to review and address the issues that Mr. Barnett raised.”

The attorneys representing Barnett’s mother, Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, could not be immediately reached for comment.