FCA sales chief files whistleblower lawsuit

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) U.S. sales chief and president of FCA Canada Reid Biglandhas filed a lawsuit against his employer, alleging that the Italian-American automotive giant withheld 90 per cent of his 2018 earnings because Biglandtestified in a government inquiry into sales reporting practices.

Bigland alleges the company violated Michigan's Whistleblower Protection Act because he testified before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Court documents were filed on June 5, 2019.

The company allegedly withheld Bigland's long-term incentive stock payout, special dividends and an annual bonus. Documents say the dividends alone are worth about $1.8 million.

FCA said that Bigland's incentive pay was subject to a board compensation committee, and that the committee still needs to determine whether he met company and personal performance indicators.

Bigland'slawsuit comes in the wake of atumultuous week for FCA.

The automotive giant recently pulled out of an offer to merge with French automaker Renault.

In a statement, FCA said that France's current political climate wasn't stable enough "for such a combination to proceed successfully."