Virgin Islands Whistleblower Law
Statutory protection against unjust dismissal.
Court Decisions:
- Johnson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 35 V.I. 27 (V.I. 1996)
Statutes:
- Law Prohibiting Unjust Dismissal, V.I. Code tit. 24, § 76–79
- Whistleblower Protection Act, V.I. Code tit. 10, § 121–126 (public employees)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the U.S. Virgin Islands have a False Claims Act (FCA)?
Yes. The Virgin Islands False Claims Act applies to the state and any instrumentality of the state.
Does the U.S. Virgin Island’s FCA have a whistleblower provision?
Yes, whistleblowers are protected under the Virgin Islands FCA. In addition to protection from retaliation, whistleblowers can receive awards of 15-25% of collections in cases with government intervention and 33-50% in cases lacking government assistance. Some restrictions apply on qui tam actions and reward applications brought by past or present government employees whose suits are based on information acquired during the course of their employment.
Do the U.S. Virgin Islands recognize the public policy for exception wrongful termination?
Yes. According to Virgin Islands law, “the right of employers to terminate employment-at-will for any cause no longer includes the discharge of an employee where the discharge is in violation of a statute and thereby contravenes public policy and/or community good.”
