In 1986, responding to the Pierce decision of its supreme court, the New Jersey legislature adopted The Conscientious Employee Protection Act,16 shielding from retaliation employees who object to, or refuse to participate in, “any activity, policy or practice which the employee reasonably believes to be incompatible with a clear mandate of public policy concerning the public health, safety or welfare.” What would have been the likely outcome had Dr. Pierce sued under this new law?

Internet Assignment: By 2000, every state in the United States had adopted whistleblower protection statutes of some type. Locate one such law from your home state. Under what circumstances are whistleblowers protected? Are private sector as well as government employees covered? Does coverage under the statute exclude the possibility of suing in tort?