Seasoned Litigators Dealing With the Complexities of Public Litigation
Here at Ahdoot Wolfson, our team of seasoned litigators boasts over 20 years of having investigated and litigated fraud claims involving both government and corporate entities. Over the years, we have helped whistleblowers secure favorable results.
Defendants in whistleblower disputes can be intimidating, hostile, and aggressive in their attempt to quash criticism. Many would-be plaintiffs find this concerning and seek to avoid conflict altogether.
We’re here to help.
Our deep experience in complex litigation — which includes class action disputes against powerful defendants — has given us the tools we need to relentlessly pursue justice, even when the deck is stacked against our client.
We strive every day to be better than the opposition: more efficient, more innovative, and more thorough in the development of a winning case strategy. This approach pays significant dividends, particularly for whistleblowers who find themselves in a vulnerable position vis-a-vis the defendant.
Understanding the False Claims Act
The False Claims Act — and specifically the “qui tam” provision — allows whistleblowers to bring an action on behalf of the government against the individual/entity that is engaging in misconduct. For example, if you are an employee of a mining company and discover that they are routinely violating environmental regulations and lying about compliance, then you can bring a qui tam claim under the False Claims Act against your employer. As the whistleblower-plaintiff, you would be entitled to a percentage of the total compensation recovered by the government.
These claims can be quite significant and are worth pursuing if the claim is actionable. Total compensation may amount to millions of dollars or even tens of millions of dollars.
Whistleblower Retaliation
Given the fundamental importance of whistleblowers in American society, and the positive effect that their disclosures can have with respect to identifying corporate and governmental misconduct, state and federal legislatures have created a number of regulations intended to shield whistleblowers from potential retaliation, whether in the employment context or otherwise.
These protections not only make adverse conduct targeting the whistleblower illegal, but they also entitle the whistleblower to a range of damages as compensation for their losses. In some cases, courts may even award bonus punitive damages, which can multiply the baseline damage award.
Worth noting is that these protections are wide-ranging and applicable to both public and private employees. All employees are entitled to protection for whistleblowing regarding industry-related violations and employment law violations, but more specific grants have been carved out in the law, too.
For example, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) extends key anti-retaliation protections to employees working for NASA, the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard and other agencies. Meanwhile, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act extends anti-retaliation protections to employees in the financial sector who are privy to commodity fraud.
If you believe that your position is being threatened or undermined due to having “blown the whistle,” then you may have an actionable retaliation claim for which you should seek the assistance of qualified legal counsel.
Seek Experienced Litigation Counsel
Contact us today for a free initial consultation to determine your rights and potential remedies.
Ahdoot Wolfson believes in direct engagement with our clients from the very start of the representation process. To that end, one of our experienced attorneys will attend to your matter personally.
We litigate complex whistleblower claims on a contingency basis. Simply put, we have the financial resources necessary to cover litigation costs — which includes the cost of retaining experts and investigating the case. No legal fees are charged until a successful result has been achieved.