Attorney Says Reprimand Could Deter Possible Whistleblowers

An Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation attorney who was reprimanded last month for reporting alleged wrongdoing in state government says the action against him could deter other potential whistleblowers, the Columbus Dispatch reported Monday.Joseph C. Sommer is contesting the reprimand he received Dec. 17 for asking Ohio inspector general's office to investigate alleged problems with the process of nominating a candidate to the Industrial Commission.The newspaper said that in May, Sommer used his state e-mail account to request an investigation of the process that Gov. Ted Strickland ...