Answers to 5 Whistleblower FAQ You Need to Know

7/23/2022

A whistleblower is anyone who has and reports insider knowledge of illegal activities occurring in an organization. Whistleblowers can be employees, suppliers, contractors, clients, or any individual who becomes aware of illegal business activities. If you have knowledge of a person or company attempting to defraud the federal government, and you come forward with this information, you could be receive a whistleblower award for your courage and blowing the whistle by filing a Whistleblower Lawsuit. Contact Nashville Whistleblower Attorney Timothy L. Miles today for a free case evaluation. Read on, below are answers to five frequently asked questions in whistleblower lawsuits.

What Is the False Claims Act?

The False Claims Act (FCA) makes it illegal for any person or institution to intentionally file a false claim or create a false record regarding any federally funded program. In this case, “intentionally” includes acting with reckless disregard, which is when someone blatantly ignores the potential consequences their actions may bring. The “qui tam” provision of the FCA allows private citizens who have evidence of fraud to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party on behalf of the government.

Can a Whistleblower Be Fired?

Whistleblowers are granted protections from retaliation under the FCA, including demotion, termination, suspension, denial of benefits, and any other retaliatory behavior. If an unethical organization attempts to retaliate against you despite these protections, you can file a lawsuit against them and recover the damages their actions have caused.

However, it is important to act quickly if you do experience retaliation. Time is of the essence in these situations, and you’ll need to prove that you were fired as a result of the qui tam lawsuit you were a part of. Waiting to file a whistleblower lawsuit can make your case weaker and potentially cause you to lose it altogether, so it is important to speak with a qualified whistleblower attorney.

What Is Fraud?

In qui tam lawsuits, fraud is defined as the intentional, significant misuse or theft of taxpayer funding. It also includes the misrepresentation of goods or services with the intent to earn unwarranted compensation, which can occur when companies bill the government for unperformed services. Fraud can be committed by a single individual or an entire organization, but the victim is always the innocent taxpayer who assumes their hard-earned money is going toward its intended purpose.

What Constitutes as a Whistleblower Lawsuit?

If you have evidence of an individual or organization deliberately attempting to defraud the government of funding, you may have grounds for a whistleblower lawsuit. However, not all evidence is created equal, and you may not know if your information is sufficient enough to warrant a lawsuit. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please speak with a whistleblower attorney for further opinion and advice on how to proceed.

Do You Need Evidence to Be a Whistleblower?

Yes, you will need strong supporting evidence to file a qui tam lawsuit. The evidence you collect must clearly display the entity committing the fraud, the amount stolen, and any other relevant information pertaining to the crime at hand. Many whistleblowers have collected financial statements, emails, and memorandums, but others have taken an extra step and used a personal recording device to collect evidence. While this is not necessary in all cases, it is important to collect as much evidence as you can to ensure that your case can help expose the corruption.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about blowing the whistle, contact Nashville whistleblower attorney Timothy L. Miles for a confidential and free case evaluation. Call today and see what a Nashville Whistleblower attorney can do for you.

Timothy L. Miles

T imothy L. Miles is a nationally recognized shareholder rights attorney raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Miles was recentely selected by Martindale-Hubbell® and ALM as a 2022 Top Ranked Lawyer, 2022 Top Rated Litigator. and a 2022 Elite Lawyer of the South. Mr. Miles also maintains the AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, their highest rating for both legal ability and ethics. Mr. Miles is a member of the prestigious Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers: The National Trial Lawyers Association, a superb rated attorney by Avvo, a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Premier Lawyers of America (2019) and recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer, Recognizing Excellence in Securities Law, by Lawyers of Distinction (2019).

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