Infosys gets reprieve as US court dismisses harrassment case

Infosys has won a lawsuit filed against it by a former employee who alleged that the company illegally used foreign workers on client projects.

US federal judge Myron Thompson threw out the case against the information technology major, brought by former employee Jay Palmer.

Palmer had alleged he was harassed at work, sidelined and even received death threats for refusing to participate in an alleged Infosys scheme to use workers on business visitor, or B-1 visas, for tasks that required an H-1B work visa.

Finding no basis to support any of the charges filed by Palmer, the judge ordered that all other pending motions are "denied as moot" and all pending objections are overruled as moot, according to the court documents.

"Judgment is entered in favour of defendants Infosys Technologies Limited Incorporated and Infosys Limited and against plaintiff Jack 'Jay' Palmer, Jr, with plaintiff Palmer taking nothing by his complaint," US District Judge Myron H Thompson said in his two-page ruling on Monday.

"It is further ordered that costs are taxed against plaintiff Palmer, for which execution may issue," Judge Thompson said in his order dated August 20, thus bringing an end to a long drawn case against the major Indian IT company.

Thompson ruled on Monday that some of claims brought by Palmer against Infosys aren't covered by a state law.

"Without question, the alleged electronic and telephonic threats are deeply troubling," wrote Thompson. "Indeed, an argument could be made that such threats against whistleblowers, in particular, should be illegal."

But Thompson wrote that "the issue before the court, however, is not whether Alabama should make these alleged wrongs actionable, but whether they are, in fact, illegal under state law. This court cannot rewrite state law."

Consequently, "this court must conclude that, under current Alabama law, Palmer has no right to recover from Infosys", wrote Thompson.

In a statement, Infosys said: "Today's decision confirms what we have been saying from the beginning: Mr. Palmer's claims of retaliation were completely unfounded. This is a company built on core values that include leadership by example, integrity and transparency. Those values always have and will continue to shape the way we do business with our clients and, without exception, the way we treat our people. We are pleased to consider this matter officially closed."

With inputs from agencies