Royal Energy Loses Claims Whistleblower Defamed CEO, Stole Money

摘要

Royal Energy Resources Inc. and its CEO lost defamation and theft counterclaims against the company's former chief commercial officer who says he was retaliated against for reporting misconduct by the top executive to the SEC, according to a South Carolina federal court ruling.The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina's ruling centers on a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Brian Hughs after Royal terminated him and then denied him severance pay. Hughs says he was fired shortly after reporting CEO William Tuorto to the Securities and Exchange Commission for misconduct in connection with the sale of an Ohio mining complex called Sands Hill.