Whistleblowers are among the most effective fighters against government fraud. Their efforts are often the key to recovering stolen money from evil corporations and ensuring the government is protected from corporate waste, mismanagement, or abuse.
Consultations
If you work for the government, you will likely hear about fraud or have witnessed it. This can be a severe problem as these crimes impact government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. The False Claims Act allows whistleblowers to bring legal claims to recover government funds that have been fraudulently obtained. A consultation with experts like Audetlaw.com whistleblower lawyer can help you understand the details of your case and whether you have a claim for financial compensation. Consultation is a conference or meeting with a professional that results in the exchange of opinions and the prescription of advice. It is a valuable tool for identifying and solving problems before they get out of hand.
Legal Representation
When you are ready to report fraud, you must have legal representation from a whistleblower and government fraud lawyer. These attorneys can protect you against retaliation and help you receive your whistleblower reward. There are many types of whistleblower and government fraud cases, and working with a firm with experience in your specific type of case is essential. A whistleblower and government fraud attorney will be able to tell you more about your rights and can also answer any questions you have. Most successful whistleblower law firms offer a free, confidential consultation, during which they will discuss your situation and advise you on the next steps in your case. Whistleblower and government fraud cases require much legal research, document filing, court appearances, and other tasks. This means that you will need a whistleblower and government fraud lawyer who can answer your calls, respond to your emails, and take care of all the legal matters involved in your case.
Negotiations
Whistleblowers often report fraud in the procurement sector, including bid rigging. This occurs when contractors agree on how much they will bid on a particular project and thus “rig” the highest and lowest prices, often without government knowledge. Under the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA), contractors must submit cost and pricing data for negotiated contracts that exceed a certain monetary threshold. They also must certify that the information is current, accurate, and complete. Contractors may also violate TINA by withholding or falsifying the price and discount information they submit. This type of fraud can be very costly to the government. Whistleblowers with information about unlawful billing practices in the government procurement sector can benefit from working with a whistleblower lawyer. These attorneys are experienced in federal False Claims Act cases and can help you file a qui tam action under the FCA. They can also advise you on the steps to gather evidence for your case. It is important to remember that your conversations with these lawyers are subject to attorney-client privilege.
Litigation
Working with a whistleblower and government fraud lawyer doesn’t have to be an arduous process. However, making the right decisions is essential to protect yourself and maximize your benefits. Whistleblower laws are designed to encourage those who know of fraud against the government to come forward and expose the problem. These laws offer a substantial financial reward to those who do so and can help stop the scam and get the money back to taxpayers. A whistleblower can pursue a civil action under the False Claims Act or other comparable state law. This type of lawsuit is called a qui tam action, and it typically allows the relator (the person who filed the whistleblower complaint) to receive a portion of any recovery the government makes. If you are a whistleblower and are ready to file a suit, consider hiring a law firm exclusively focused on representing whistleblowers. This can help ensure that you’re not wasting your time with a lawyer who’s in over his head. It can also give you confidence that your lawyer has the experience to handle this complex and sensitive legal matter.
Retaliation
One of the most common problems whistleblowers face is retaliation against their efforts to disclose fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement in government. Retaliation can include a wide range of adverse employment actions against a whistleblower that may be illegal under federal, state, and local laws. Examples of retaliation include being terminated, demoted, or assigned less-than-ideal responsibilities for your work. You may also experience other negative consequences for your whistleblowing, such as changing your job description or your evaluations becoming lower than they should be. If your employer is doing this in retaliation for reporting an allegation of fraud, you have the legal right to file a whistleblower lawsuit against them. If you suspect retaliation against your reporting, consult an experienced attorney to help you investigate and gather evidence. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be.
