A whistleblower is an individual with knowledge or evidence of an organization’s illegal acts which often includes fraud or corruption. Whistleblowers are often employees, former employees, and others who have access to company documents and internal information. Some employees are fired or threatened with termination when they report violations or other illegal acts to the authorities. Under whistleblower legislation, these actions by an employer are against the law. Whistleblowers in these situations can also claim compensation for lost wages, and psychological or emotional distress. In some cases, they can obtain punitive damages.
It takes a tremendous amount of bravery to expose wrongdoing by your employer. If you are considering reporting such an issue, the Northern California whistleblower lawyers will help protect you and your rights from retaliation by your employer. Contact us at (916) 999-9000 for a free consultation.
As a Whistleblower, You Are Not Alone
If you have evidence of illegal acts being committed by your employer, you may feel helpless. But you are not alone. The attorneys at the Tiemann Law Firm are on your side. Our attorneys knows these laws inside-out. We have experience protecting whistleblowers across a wide range of industries. We have helped courageous employees to get their jobs back after being fired — and to collect both rewards and damages.
The most successful tool the whistleblower has is the False Claims Act. Also known as a qui tam case, the False Claims Act allows an individual to file a lawsuit on behalf of the Government against individuals and corporations that have defrauded government-funded programs. This includes Healthcare Fraud, Government Contracting Fraud, Mortgage Fraud, and Education Fraud. Other whistleblower programs include the SEC Whistleblower Program, the CFTC Whistleblower Program, and the IRS Whistleblower Program. The False Claims Act and other whistleblower programs often involve complex procedural requirements. We can help you navigate these programs. In addition, whistleblowers that are represented by an attorney can remain anonymous when filing complaints with the SEC, CFTC, or IRS Whistleblower Programs.
Common Unlawful Practices
There is numerous unlawful practice that employers can be reported for. The most common unlawful practices are:
- Tax fraud
- Healthcare / Pharmaceutical fraud
- Violations of health and safety regulations
- Discrimination due to Age, Race, Sex, Religion, etc.
- Falsification of loan documents, invoices and other financial documents
- Violations of obligations to shareholders or partners in the business
- Sexual harassment, unfair or deceptive business practices, racial discrimination and other employment law violations
There are Time Limits to File a Claim
An individual’s decision to become a whistleblower requires careful consideration, and it is crucial that the proper steps be followed to ensure that the incentives and the protections afforded by the False Claims Act and other whistleblower laws are preserved. Tiemann Law Firms’ whistleblower attorneys guide whistleblowers carefully through the process to ensure their privacy and confidentiality interests are protected. For a free review of your potential case, call (916) 999-9000 and speak with an attorney today. Our whistleblower attorneys are sensitive to confidentiality concerns. All communications with our law firm are confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege.
