BOISE -- A former Ada County employee's wrongful termination case will move forward to a jury trial.
Rich Wright is seeking $1.5 million after he says the county fired him from his position as Director of the Department of Administration for investigating a harassment claim.
On Thursday, Idaho's highest court ruled his case can be considered under the Whistleblower Act, which shields employees who report wrongdoing from retaliation.
The case will next move back to district court, where both sides will present witnesses and evidence.
Wright said Monday the Idaho Supreme Court's ruling was a relief.
"The case that I'm bringing forward will actually go before a jury of my peers and be heard, and that's a decision I've been waiting a long time for," he said.
Wright said he lost his job in January 2013 after launching an investigation into one of his employees for workplace harassment. As a result of that investigation, the employee was given the choice to resign or be fired.
According to the suit, that employee was a close personal friend of two county commissioners. The Board of Commissioners voted to terminate Wright not long after.
He said he struggled in the aftermath of losing his job.
"This case really impacted my life," he said. "I was without work for six months. I had to sell my home. I am now on my third job in the last three years, trying to replace that life that I had."
Ada County has said Wright's termination came because of a restructuring of the department, while Wright argued that the firing was payback for the investigation and a violation of the Whistleblower Act. He later amended the lawsuit to include that Ada County had inflicted emotional distress by terminating him.
At issue in the Supreme Court ruling was whether Wright had participated in the investigation into the other employee, and whether investigating harassment claims were covered under the Whistleblower Act.
The high court ultimately decided it was.
"If no protection were afforded to public employees who participate in official inquiries into subject matter that is unrelated to waste or a violation of law, rule, or regulation, but which subsequently uncover such waste or violations of law, rule, or regulation, the purpose of the Whistleblower Act would be wholly defeated," the decision reads.
The high court sided with Ada County on Wright's claim that his firing violated the Family Medical Leave Act.
Wright said he was grateful to have the Supreme Court weigh in.
"It's very black and white now," he said. "Anybody who is ever in the same position that I'm in today will now at least know that they have the right to bring their claims forward and have it played out in the court."
A trial date has not yet been set.
Ada County officials say they "adamantly disagree" with what Wright says in his suit.
"At this point, we're going to let this case proceed," Chairman Jim Tibbs said in a statement.
The statement is included below:
In the case of Wright vs Ada County, the Supreme Court of Idaho released a summary judgment today and narrowed the issues in the case to a remaining two.
As of today, there has been no decision made in this case. The case now goes back to the Idaho Fourth Judicial District Court where the remaining two claims will be decided. Mr. Wright and The Ada County Commissioners will each have the opportunity to explain their points of view to a neutral jury. The Ada County Commissioners adamantly disagree with the facts as Mr. Wright has asserted them.