On Aug. 2, 2013, plaintiff Khanh Dang, 59, a maintenance supervisor, was terminated from his position with Maruichi American Corp., a subsidiary of a Japanese company that sells steel tubing. He claimed he was fired in retaliation for being a whistleblower. Dang sued Maruichi American Corp., alleging that the company wrongfully terminated him in violation of public policy, as he was a whistleblower. Dang alleged he was fired for discussing and supporting the potential unionization of his company. Specifically, he claimed that he was fired for asking employees about the status of organizing efforts, and for talking to the workers about what he saw as advantages and disadvantages of union representation. Defense counsel argued that issues arose with Dang when he became a supervisor in 2011, in that employees who reported to Dang complained about his treatment of them. Counsel argued that employees complained about Dang yelling and cursing at them and that Dang’s treatment of the employees was one of the reasons the employees wanted a union. Dang denied the employees’ allegations., Dang worked at Maruichi American Corp. for eight years prior to his termination. Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award Dang $850,000 for his back pay, lost benefits and emotional distress damages.