If you know of a fraud being carried out against the United States government or a state government, you may qualify to act as a whistleblower. Dishonest companies and individuals who overcharge Medicare and other public healthcare systems, underpay income taxes to the IRS, or defraud the government through contracts for military or public works projects cost the United States billions of dollars every year. Whistleblowers who alert authorities to the fraud may be financially compensated for their work and protected from retaliation from their employers and others for coming forward.
Numerous federal and state laws, including False Claims Acts, protect whistleblowers from being fired, demoted, or otherwise disciplined at work for exposing fraud against the government. Whistleblowers serve an important role in helping protect the government from overpaying for services, paying for services or services that were never delivered, and other types of fraud.
If you or a loved one wants to act as a whistleblower or has faced retaliation at work as a result of acting as a whistleblower, you may be entitled to financial compensation and protection. At Mark & Associates, P.C. our aggressive, experienced employee’s rights and personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping whistleblowers who expose fraud against the government receive the financial compensation and protection they deserve. To schedule a free, confidential legal consultation, contact us today by calling 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448) or completing the case inquiry form on this page.
Who Can Be a Whistleblower?
Whistleblowers come from all walks of life and may include accountants, business executives, doctors and other health care professionals, members of executive or corporate boards, and others who step forward to report fraud against government. Public healthcare programs including Medicare and Medicaid, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Defense, and other government agencies and programs have all been the focus of whistleblower cases in the past.
Some common examples of situations where whistleblowers have exposed fraud against the government include:
- Healthcare workers who have proof that their employers are overbilling Medicare or Medicaid for patient treatments
- Employees of government contractors who know of overbilling for services or billing for services not provided
- Accountants who expose fraud by their clients against the Internal Revenue Service
- Citizens who notice improper disposal or dumping of toxic materials and other environmental crimes
- Employees who have evidence of sexual harassment in the workplace
- Workers who detect misuse or abuse of company funds by corporate directors and officers
- People who detect fraud in government contracts awarded as part of relief efforts following hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters
What is a Qui Tam Lawsuit?
Laws which allow private citizens to file lawsuits on behalf of the United States government for fraud committed against the government are called qui tam laws. Citizens who know of a fraud or illegal conduct perpetrated against the government may file a lawsuit, and if the charges are later proven by government prosecutors, the citizen shares in a percentage of the financial damages paid by the offender.
Am I Protected as a Whistleblower?
Yes, people who bravely step up to report abuses committed against the government are not only providing a vital public service, but they also are afforded important protections. Employers and others may not fire, demote, harass, or otherwise retaliate against whistleblowers. If your employer or someone else has physically threatened you or retaliated against you on the job, they are breaking the law and face stiff penalties.
Free Legal Consultation
If you or a loved one knows of a crime or fraud being committed against a government agency or program, you may qualify to act as a whistleblower. You may be eligible to receive financial compensation based on the amount of money you save the government and be protected from retaliation at work and elsewhere. At Mark & Associates, P.C., our experienced whistleblower attorneys will evaluate your situation and advise you of all your legal rights. Contact Mark & Associates, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation review of your possible whistleblower or workplace retaliation case by calling 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448) or completing the form on this page.