Local

'I'm not a snitch': Whistleblower sues Health Dept. after being fired

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A whistleblower who said he was fired for accusing the Mecklenburg County Health Department of major problems like giving out wrong test results or not sending results at all, is now planning to fight back in court.

Dell Adams accused the Mecklenburg County Health Department in 2017 of not notifying women of test results, leaving out vital medical tests and allowing poor conditions that left some employees sick.

The 63-page lawsuit recently filed against Mecklenburg County claims Adams tried to get his bosses, the county manager and even commissioners to step in long before he turned to the media, but no one listened.

[PAST COVERAGE: Former health dept. employee says he was fired for being whistleblower]

Adams worked for almost 20 years at the Mecklenburg County Health Department, drawing blood from patients for important tests, but he said the care patients received seriously deteriorated.

“Chlamydia testing. HIV testing. Pap smear testing. Basically, everything we provided in the Health Department. That's where the breakdown started,” said Adams.

Adams said he tried to alert officials and file complaints with the Health Department, Mecklenburg County and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He said nothing happened and “they tried to push it under the rug."

That’s when Adams said he decided to turn to the media to get his voice heard.

Adams said, “I'm not a snitch. I'm someone who spoke out for the best interest of the people of Mecklenburg County.”

Melissa Hall, with Maloney and Associates, is working on his retaliation and wrongful termination lawsuit against the county and said Adams wants justice and answers.

“He was doing his job. They were not doing their job,” said Halls. “And it's frustrating that he lost his job, and they're still in office.”

Channel 9’s Allison Latos reached out to county officials, but they said they won’t comment on pending litigation. Latos also emailed Commissioner Vilma Leak, asking her what action she took when Adams contacted her with concerns years ago but is waiting on a response back.

“Hopefully the community will get what's deserving to them, answers to what took place and hopefully instead of pushing them under the rug, we can get some solutions,” said Adams.