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Last Wednesday the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, a unit of the U.S. Department of Defense, searched the long-time Lexington manufacturer and removed boxes from the company. According to the Port Huron Times Herald, a federal agent said the search warrant was for records and documents related to defense contracts.

Two area men recently sued Fraser Mfg. in Sanilac County Circuit Court for violating the Michigan Whistleblower Protection Act, claiming they were fired after protesting the use of bolts not tested and certified by the government on gun mounts as well as MIOSHA violations. The men also told their supervisors they were going to report the violations to the Defense Department.

The company received contracts for up to $29 million to produce various types of gun mounts for the defense department in 2005. According to the defense department's website, the contract was good through September 2010. This was not their first contract with the defense department. In 2003 they received a contract for $1.95 million worth of gun mounts, traverse and elevating mechanisms.

Lawsuits
Company officials did not return phone calls asking for a comment on the two lawsuits or the raid.

John J. Murphy II of Croswell filed his lawsuit against Fraser a couple weeks ago.

According to court records, Murphy was a line leader when he was fired last July. Murphy claims that in May the company told the employees to spray paint bolts purchased at a hardware store when assembling the tripods, instead of the certified and tested steel bolts the army required they use.

According to the lawsuit, Murphy confronted his supervisor and the plant manager about building the tripods illegally. He said he would inform the government about the non-conforming bolts. Murphy claims he was then given a new assignment outside of the assembly department.

Murphy also complained that his supervisors wanted to reinstate employees he fired for drinking on the job.

According to the lawsuit, he researched and compiled information for MIOSHA and the U.S. Army, and then called to speak to his supervisor or plant manager about his concerns. He was told the action the company was taking was to fire him.

According to the lawsuit, Murphy reported the suspected illegal activities to the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and has been interviewed by special agents from the criminal investigation unit.

Last week Christopher Slaght of Avoca filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging they fired him Aug. 7 after he stated he would report about the use of the paint not approved by the defense department on the tripod legs as well as being required to paint with hazardous chemicals without protective equipment.

Slaght's lawsuit claims he emailed and called various public bodies, including the U.S. Army, and has been interviewed about his complaints.