Ex-General Counsel Accuses Bio-Rad of Firing Him in Retaliation for Blowing the Whistle
The former general counsel for Bio-Rad (NYSE:BIO) accused the company and CEO Norman Schwartz of firing him in retaliation for blowing the whistle on alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in China.
Sanford Wadler, who was general counsel and executive vice president when Bio-Rad sacked him in June 2013, alleged that he was fired right before the company was slated to present findings from its investigation into bribery in Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. Bio-Rad later agreed to a $55 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Dept. and the Securities & Exchange Commission, which found that it paid $7.5 million in bribes to drum up some $35 million in profits.
Sanford Wadler, who was general counsel and executive vice president when Bio-Rad sacked him in June 2013, alleged that he was fired right before the company was slated to present findings from its investigation into bribery in Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. Bio-Rad later agreed to a $55 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Dept. and the Securities & Exchange Commission, which found that it paid $7.5 million in bribes to drum up some $35 million in profits.