Blow the Whistle Without Fear: Supreme Court Empowers Employees in Murray v. UBS

Reporting on your employer’s questionable conduct has become easier than ever with the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Murray v. UBS Securities, LLC. The case resolved a circuit split surrounding the proper interpretation of “retaliatory intent” for claims involving alleged violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act’s whistleblower protection provision. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held that a plaintiff does not need to prove retaliatory intent to prevail on such a claim. Although proof of intent is still required, the decision substantially lowers the burden for wronged employees while assuring that companies are not on the hook for nonretaliatory punishment.