Thu Mar 20 20:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Boeing Sued After Whistleblower’s Suicide
**Charleston, SC – March 21, 2025** – The family of John Barnett, a former Boeing quality control manager who died by suicide last year, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the aerospace giant. The suit alleges that Boeing subjected Barnett to a campaign of harassment and intimidation after he blew the whistle on alleged defects in Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Barnett, 62, who had retired from Boeing in 2017, shared concerns with journalists about potential safety issues, including discarded metal shavings near flight control wiring and problems with the oxygen systems. The lawsuit claims that instead of addressing these concerns, Boeing retaliated by giving Barnett poor performance reviews, assigning him undesirable shifts, and publicly blaming him for production delays. This, the family argues, contributed to his deteriorating mental health, ultimately leading to his suicide on March 9, 2024.
Barnett’s family claims Boeing’s actions caused him to develop PTSD and suffer from severe depression, panic attacks, and anxiety. The lawsuit asserts that Boeing’s conduct was the foreseeable cause of his death, regardless of whether the company intended to drive him to suicide. While Boeing offered condolences in a statement, they have yet to formally respond to the lawsuit in court filings.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for emotional distress, lost earnings, health expenses, and lost life insurance benefits. The family’s legal team contends that Boeing’s actions constitute a clear breach of duty and negligence. The case is now before a federal court in South Carolina.
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