August 11, 2002--

MICK HARRISON/ATTORNEY FOR WHISTLEBLOWER: "IT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THE LARGEST AWARDS TO A WHISTLEBLOWER THAT I'VE HEARD OF. PERHAPS THE LARGEST IN HISTORY."

DAVID W. HALL/DUGWAY WHISTLEBLOWER: "THE JUDGE HAS LITERALLY GIVEN ME BACK MY LIFE."

A former Army chemist wins a big one over the Army... as a judge comes down hard... backing up the whistleblower in his battle over safety concerns at Dugway Proving Ground.

David Hall says he was forced to retire by Dugway in 1996 because they were trying to shut him up.

Now, a federal administrative law judge says he agrees.

And he's just ordered the Army to pay Hall a million and a half dollars... plus attorney fees.

News Specialist John Hollenhorst has the exclusive story.

The trial was held last year before a Department of Labor Judge... possibly the longest whistleblower trial ever...stretching over 12 weeks.

Now the judge has finally issued his 130 page ruling. In very strong language he says the Army blatantly tried to shut David Hall up on safety issues.

Hall and his attorney had a celebratory lunch today. The judge's ruling means their six-year battle is over, unless the Army appeals.

Hall began working at Dugway as a chemist in 1986. He noticed numerous safety and environmental problems: gas masks that didn't work, sites contaminated with chemical weapons, workers flushing chemicals illegally down drains. When he tried to get things fixed, he claims the army tried to discredit him, swept his concerns under the rug, and forced hiim to retire. Now, the judge has backed up Hall's version of events.

DAVID W. HALL/DUGWAY WHISTLEBLOWER: "TREMENDOUS VINDICATION, BECAUSE MY CHARACTER WAS JUST ASSASSINATED BY THE DUGWAY MANAGERS, THE HIGHER ARMY MANAGERS, A GENERAL EVEN. SO THE JUDGE HAS LITERALLY GIVEN ME BACK MY LIFE."

MICK HARRISON/ATTORNEY FOR WHISTLEBLOWER: "THIS JUDGE IS A VERY EXPERIENCED JUDGE, 28 YEARS OR SO ON THE BENCH. AND HE SAID THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BLATANT CASES OF RETALIATION HE'S EVER SEEN."

Hall hope this will encourage other whistleblowers to come forward. And perhaps push the Army to safer practices.

We've been unable to reach Army officials for comment. But they previously told the judge they're willing to appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.