An Atlanta Whistleblower Lawyer Can Help
Whistleblowers who expose government fraud have the right to file a qui tam lawsuit.
Qui tam lawsuits are authorized by a federal whistleblower law known as the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. § 3729 (also called the FCA).
The most common types of qui tam cases today involve health care fraud, Medicare fraud, Medicaid fraud, Department of Defense fraud, as well as fraud in the procurement and payment of construction contracts and government loans.
If you do not follow the rules, you will not be protected against retaliation.
Under the False Claims Act, successful qui tam whistleblowers are entitled to 15-30% of whatever amount the government recovers. FCA whistleblowers have been awarded more than $2.2 billion for exposing government fraud.
If you are a whistleblower or know about government fraud, you should seek experienced counsel from ab Atlanta whistleblower lawyer. Our legal team provides assistance to whistleblowers across the United States.
Do I Have a Good Whistleblower Case?
The first thing our Atlanta whistleblower lawyers do is determine if you have a good case.
To build the best case, our whistleblower legal team conducts a thorough investigation. We start by carefully identifying each of the specific laws, rules, and regulations that will govern the unique type of fraud you have discovered.
We then immediately develop a strategy for success tailored to your case by:
- Identifying all documents, witnesses, and other critical evidence
- Implementing a proactive plan to help protect you from retaliation
- Retaining fraud investigation experts and forensic accountants to testify on your behalf
- Drafting and filing your official whistleblower complaint and ensuring that you comply with all of the False Claims Act's strict filing rules and deadlines
Once your case is filed we work directly with the federal government on your behalf. We work closely with the Justice Department and local U.S. Attorney's Offices. We ensure your rights and interests are protected each step of the way.
There are many ways that companies and individuals defraud the federal government. If you believe you have discovered evidence of government fraud, you should always speak with an experienced Atlanta whistleblower attorney first before blowing the whistle.
Choosing the Right Atlanta Whistleblower Attorneys Can Make All the Difference
The key to winning or losing your whistleblower case is making sure you follow all whistleblower rules both before and after you blow the whistle. Our Atlanta whistleblower lawyers are ready to help.
Here is an example of two of the many laws you must know about.
First, whistleblowers must act quickly.
Under the False Claims Act only the first person to correctly file a whistleblower complaint in federal court can receive a whistleblower reward. This is known as the first-to-file rule.
Under the first-to-file rule, if another person has already filed a qui tam lawsuit involving the same facts in your case, your lawsuit will be dismissed. Under the first-to-file rule, a delay of one day can mean the difference between winning and losing.
As such, you should never discuss your case with anyone except your attorney. Speaking with someone else may inspire your co-workers or others to file their own whistleblower lawsuit before you, thereby barring yours.
Second, whistleblowers must keep their complaints absolutely secret.
Sometimes whistleblowers want to tell the media, co-workers, or friends about the fraud they have uncovered. Don't do it.
Under the False Claims Act whistleblowers must keep their lawsuit under a "seal" of secrecy while the government investigates their whistle blower case. This means records relating to your case will be kept on a secret docket by the clerk of the court.
While your case is under seal, government investigators may execute search warrants, interview witnesses, and serve subpoenas for documents and electronic records.
Meanwhile, the seal allows you to work with the government and keep collecting evidence while your employer or the target of the investigation remains unaware of the lawsuit.
If you know about fraud, report it to our Atlanta whistleblower attorneys today. Our legal team is here to protect you from employer retaliation while working to win you whistleblower reward.
