Whistleblowers are allowed to seek compensation from directors of a company, a federal judge ruled in California, broadening legal protections for whistleblowers by expanding those who can be held liable in such cases.

U.S. District Court Judge Joesph Spero in the Northern District of California ruled that although it was a “close call” and few courts had taken up the issue before, the financial regulation laws Sarbanes Oxley and Dodd-Frank didn’t intend to shield directors who retaliate against an employee.

Ruling the other way and protecting board members would have tilted the scales unfairly against whistleblowers, he said.

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