A district judge has dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit brought against the City of Minot in 2023 by an employee who alleged he was involuntarily forced to resign for reporting violations of the electrical code.

Todd Mickelson was an electrical inspector with the city from Sept. 22, 2014, to June 19, 2022. His complaint stated his superiors constantly blocked his efforts to comply with codes, laws, regulations and standards governing the installation and repair of electrical service.

North Central District Judge Douglas Mattson granted the city’s request for summary judgment in ordering the dismissal on Jan. 27. He found Mickelson failed to exhaust the city’s grievance procedure, as argued by the city. Without his exhaustion of administrative remedies, the court is without jurisdiction, Mattson wrote.

MIckelson was ordered to pay court costs of $2,578 to the city.