It sounds to me like Googler has committed entrapment. They encourage free and open discussion and then fire the first employee to take that encouragement seriously. Given the US penchant for jury trials, even in complex civil cases, I think Dr. Damone has a very good chance of convincing a jury that "free and open discussion" is a part of his contract of employment and Google has breached it. The high-handed nature of the entrapment involved may well attract substantial punitive damages.