By Anushka Vats,News18

Copyright news18

Boeing Co has agreed to pay at least USD 50,000 in settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of John Barnett, a whistleblower who died by suicide earlier this year, reported Bloomberg.
Barnett, who was an ex-Boeing quality control manager, died by suicide in March 2024 while he was giving a deposition related to a lawsuit he had filed against the company.
Barnett had alleged that Boeing retaliated against him, raising safety concerns about its aircraft manufacturing practices.
The news of his death hit headlines globally, drawing attention to the company’s safety culture and operations at its 787 Dreamliner factory in North Charleston, South Carolina.
According to the filing cited by Bloomberg, both sides reached a “full, final and confidential settlement”, which resolves all pending claims, including the case Barnett was pursuing at the time of his death. The details of the overall settlement, including whether Boeing will make additional payments, were not disclosed.
Of the USD 50,000 wrongful death settlement, USD 20,000 will be used to cover legal fees and other costs, while the remaining amount will go to Barnett’s family.
In its filing, Boeing said that it “denied and continues to deny that any act or omission on its part” played a role in Barnett’s death.
In a statement emailed to Bloomberg, Boeing said, “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s death and extend our condolences to his family as we reach this resolution. Boeing took actions several years ago to review and address the issues that Mr. Barnett raised.”
The settlement is yet to be approved by a federal judge in Charleston, South Carolina.