Matthew Whitley, an auditor for Coke, claims that he was fired from the company after he raised concern among executives about fraudulent accounting and marketing practices. Whitley is suing the company for wrongful termination, fraud, slander and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Employment experts say that while Whitley's suit has survived a motion to dismiss, companies like Coca-Cola are likely to drag out the case as long as possible. Coca-Cola maintains that Whitley was let go as a part of a plan to restructure the company, and not for speaking out.
See Harry R. Weber, Los Angeles Times, September 21, 2003