US: Coke in further Whitely investigation

In a short statement today The Coca-Cola Company said it had been informed that the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia has initiated an investigation arising from the allegations raised in civil litigation recently filed in Atlanta by Matthew Whitley, a former employee.

July 11, 2003

In a short statement today The Coca-Cola Company said it had been informed that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has initiated an investigation arising from the allegations raised in civil litigation recently filed in Atlanta by Matthew Whitley, a former employee.

The company said it will cooperate with the inquiry.

In May, Whitley filed a US$44.4m lawsuit against the company, alleging that it failed to act on claims of product contamination and that he was dismissed for whistle blowing.

Coca-Cola dismissed the suit as the act of a “disgruntled former employee”.