Soldiers Put at Risk of Faulty Equipment

 

A Minnesota man who alerted the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to a Humvee manufacturing change that could potentially put soldiers at risk won nearly $1 million after settling his whistleblower lawsuit. David McIntosh lost his job at M.K. Battery in 2007. This came after he called defense officials to warn them the manufacturing process on Humvees gun turrets had changed. Mr. McIntosh said the change cut the life span on the battery that turned the turret by about half, which could result in fatal consequences for soldiers involved in a gun fight in Iraq.

 Mr. McIntosh tried to persuade his employer to tell the Army about the change. He finally realized the company was not going to report the matter. After 14 months had elapsed, he called the Defense Department himself. Subsequently, he was fired for insubordination. M.K. Battery has denied that the batteries fail to meet the required specifications, but interesting and perhaps telling, the company saw fit to settle with Mr. McIntosh.