Leading Philadelphia Employment Lawyers Provide In-Depth Resources and Assistance to Whistleblowers
Each year the federal and state governments collectively spend billions of dollars on Medicare, Medicaid, pharmaceuticals, defense contracts, disaster relief, construction projects, energy and education. When these government programs are victimized by fraud, it hurts all of us. Although the government has tried to combat fraud, it often does not have the resources to bring these criminals to justice and recover the taxpayers’ money. At McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC, our experienced Philadelphia whistleblower lawyers provide the advice you need to understand the best course of action for your particular situation.
Helping You Understand the Legal Safeguards in Place to Protect Whistleblowers
Faced with the reality of limited resources to investigate allegations of fraud, the federal and state governments rely heavily on citizens to “blow the whistle” against businesses and individuals that have defrauded the government. Under federal and state laws, “whistleblower” citizens are encouraged to report fraud and abuse. If the government recovers money from the people who committed the fraud, the whistleblower may have a right to receive a percentage of that recovery. Many of the whistleblower laws also contain provisions that prohibit an employer from retaliating against an employee for reporting fraud. Specifically, in Pennsylvania, an employer is forbidden from
- Discriminating against the employee
- Firing the employee
- Retaliating in any way
- Threatening to fire or take other punitive action against the employee
Whistleblowers that feel they have been subjected to unlawful actions may sue their employer for injunctive relief and damages.
The federal and state False Claims Acts have proven to be the most effective tool for combating fraud against the government. Since 1986, the federal and state governments have recovered approximately $27 billion dollars under these laws. More than 50% of these recoveries resulted from information provided by whistleblowers. Whistleblowers, in turn, have been paid more than $2 billion dollars for reporting fraud to the government. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has also recently started its own whistleblower reward program to encourage people to combat tax fraud.
Turn to a Renowned Philadelphia Employment Lawyer for Top-Notch Legal Advice and Guidance
At McCann Dillon Jaffe & Lamb, LLC, our dedicated malpractice and injury attorneys make sure that you never face difficult legal challenges alone. Don’t let a powerful corporation intimidate you and prevent you from doing what you know is right. To discuss your legal options, call us at 215-569-8488 or contact us online today. Our Philadelphia employment lawyers represent clients in Pennsylvania including the Philadelphia region, Delaware County, Montgomery County and Chester County and in the states of Delaware and New Jersey.