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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Carl v. Children's Hospital, 702 A.2d 159 (1997)

Citation
Carl v. Children's Hospital, 702 A.2d 159 (1997)
Parent Document
Carl v. Children's Hospital, 702 A.2d 159 (1997)
Jurisdiction
DC (municipal)
Effective Date
1997-09-23

Other Sections in This Document (617)

Full Text

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Ms. Carl maintains that D.C.Code § 1-224 embodies just such a policy as I have been *165talking about, .namely, the promotion and protection of every citizen’s right to testify before the legislature. Section 1-224, quoted in footnote 2 of the Per Curiam opinion, ante at 160, prohibits any endeavor “to influence, intimidate, or impede any witness in any proceeding before the Council” and specifies the prohibited means: “corruptly or by threat of force, or by any threatening letter or communication.” The statute also makes it a crime to “injure[ ] any ... witness in [her] person or property ... on account of [her] testifying or having testified to any matter pending” before the Council. Although the alleged firing of Ms. Carl by Children’s Hospital because she testified before the Council—an allegation which we must accept as true for the purposes of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss—is not expressly prohibited by section 1-224, Ms. Carl contends that it fits within the scope of the public policy expressed in the statutory prohibition against “injuring] a witness in [her] person or property” because of that witness’ testimony.