The family of John Barnett, a former Boeing quality manager who committed suicide in March 2024, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the aerospace giant. Barnett, a prominent whistleblower who raised concerns about safety issues in Boeing’s aircraft production, allegedly faced years of harassment and intimidation from the company. His family claims this hostile work environment led to severe mental health issues and, ultimately, his suicide, which occurred while he was being questioned for a legal deposition related to his whistleblower complaints.
Boeing Whistleblower’s Family Seeks Justice Through Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed by Barnett’s family, alleges Boeing subjected him to a “campaign of harassment, abuse and intimidation intended to discourage, discredit and humiliate him until he would either give up or be discredited.” According to court documents, the company’s treatment of Barnett after he raised safety concerns about Boeing’s aircraft production processes directly contributed to his deteriorating mental health and eventual suicide. The legal action seeks compensation for emotional distress, lost earnings, health expenses, and life insurance benefits.
The family of John Barnett, a Boeing whistleblower who died by suicide last year, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company. https://t.co/s5PolamYTR
— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) March 19, 2025
Barnett worked at Boeing for over three decades as a quality control manager. During his tenure, he identified numerous safety concerns, including metal shavings found near flight control wiring and problems with oxygen systems on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Rather than addressing these issues, the lawsuit claims Boeing retaliated against him with poor job reviews, undesirable shifts, and public humiliation by blaming him for production delays.
Serious Health Consequences from Alleged Workplace Intimidation
The lawsuit details how Barnett developed post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, panic attacks, and anxiety as a direct result of Boeing’s alleged harassment. “Boeing had threatened to break John, and break him it did,” the family’s attorneys stated in court documents. Medical professionals diagnosed Barnett with PTSD, and his condition progressively worsened until his suicide on March 9, 2024, which occurred during a deposition trip related to his whistleblower case against Boeing.
The family of a whistleblower police said died by suicide last year has filed a lawsuit against the Boeing Company in civil courthttps://t.co/GpPbuG71Na
— WACH FOX (@wachfox) March 20, 2025
“Whether or not Boeing intended to drive John to his death or merely destroy his ability to function, (Barnett’s death) was foreseeable … Boeing’s conduct was the clear cause, and the clear foreseeable cause, of John’s death.”
Barnett’s whistleblowing began formally in 2017 when he filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), claiming retaliation from Boeing after reporting safety concerns. He went public with his allegations in 2019. He was later featured in the 2022 Netflix documentary “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing,” which brought increased attention to his claims about safety issues within the company.
Boeing’s Response and Recent Safety Concerns
Boeing has not yet filed a formal response to the lawsuit in court. The company issued a brief statement saying, “We are saddened by John Barnett’s death and extend our condolences to his family.” The wrongful death lawsuit comes at a challenging time for Boeing, which has faced intense scrutiny following a series of aircraft malfunctions and safety incidents, including issues with its 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner models.
Charleston-based attorneys Robert Turkewitz and Brian Knowles are supporting the case. While the lawsuit does not specify the damages sought, it seeks compensation across multiple categories, including back pay, lost future earnings, and medical expenses. Investigations by various regulatory bodies had previously validated some of Barnett’s claims about safety issues at Boeing, lending credibility to the concerns he raised throughout his career before his death.