Bullying does not pay, and Centene Corp. learned that truth the hard way at a considerable cost. The Court of Appeals in Missouri heard the case that pitted the giant insurer against a former employee identified as Christine Pitcher. The latter won the court’s nod and stood to collect over $2 million in compensatory damages.

Pitcher’s pleadings stated that Centene intimidated her and did all sort of arm-twisting to keep from whistleblowing. But Pitcher did not cave in. Instead, she took her chance and exposed Centene’s modus operandi by bringing her case before the court. Her decision led to the emergence of the truth, and the court corrected what was wrong.

Apart from the $2.1 million award, the court ordered Centene to pay another million-plus to cover the lost income when Pitcher was illegally dismissed. The intention is for the courageous whistleblower to be set beyond retirement as the court determined that Pitcher working for Centene again is no longer tenable.

Centene’s Fault: Obstruction Of Justice

The court jury saw it fit to reward Pitcher for the mistreatment she got from Centene. The company made life difficult for the whistleblower, and whose supposed “crime” was to raise questions of misconduct, in a failed attempt to silence her. The court said Centene’s conduct was unacceptable, and it amounted to obstruction of justice.

The ruling likewise corrected an earlier decision issued by the lower court, which sided with Centene. The appellate said whistleblowing should not be discouraging, and suppressing such right is outright business malpractice. It also made clear that the hefty damage award is justified. It is designed to stop other companies from harassing would-be whistleblowers.

The court anchored its decision on a 2014 jurisprudence set by the U.S. Supreme Court, which essentially provides ample protection for persons wanting to voice the truth without fear of retaliation. Pitcher’s case is a classic example of a giant corporation applying pressure and intimidation to get what it wants.

Pitcher, however, fought off the threats and found justice because the court believed she has the truth at her side.

Centene Hates Dissent

The legal battle brought to light big corporations’ preference to throw their weight around. Pitcher collided against a titan that is Centene, a Fortune 500 company. The odds were against her, but courage exposed the insurer’s crooked ways – that it is willing to hurt if only to protect its business.

It is profit over people for Centene indeed, as evidenced by the company’s ongoing legal tussles, such as the situation in California. The insurer implemented a cost-cutting measure in the state by denying payment claims or reducing the originally stipulated benefits on policyholders’ health plans. As a result, many healthcare providers closed shop, and their patients were sent home to recover on their own.