What is a Whistleblower Lawsuit?

Whistleblower Lawsuit Attorneys

In a whistleblower lawsuit, an individual with knowledge of an organization’s activities provides information about fraud, corruption or other illegal activity. Whistleblowers are often employees, former employees and others who have access to company documents and internal information.

Passionate Representation in Whistleblower Lawsuits
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Whistleblowers are individuals who have the courage and integrity to stand up and call attention to wrongdoing in government and private industry. They report illegal activities because it is the right thing to do, even though it can trigger retaliation.

Sometimes whistleblowers are rewarded for their efforts.

According to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, if the government recovers money because of information a whistleblower provides, he or she will receive a portion of the funds. Typically, the whistleblower receives 20 to 30 percent of the amount recovered. In many states, similar laws reward those who blow the whistle on fraud against the state government.

The history of the whistleblower lawsuit goes back to the Civil War era. Companies supplying goods to the Union Army cheated the government then, just as some do today. They delivered broken guns, poorly made uniforms and inedible food supplies, but were paid for quality goods.

Lincoln ‘s Law

President Lincoln himself devised a plan for holding these wrongdoers responsible by rewarding whistleblowers.

At Lincoln’s request, the False Claims Act was enacted into law in 1863 and was intended to root out fraud against the government…and to encourage individuals who are aware of fraud being perpetrated against the government to bring information forward.

Sometimes called Lincoln’s Law, the False Claims Act has been on the books for more than 140 years.

Retaliation Lawsuits

Whistleblowers sometimes pay a price for doing the right thing. They may be fired, demoted or otherwise discriminated against at work for speaking out, even though it is illegal to retaliate against a whistleblower. When that happens, the attorneys of Hersh & Hersh can help by filing a wrongful termination lawsuit.

Whether you have evidence of fraud against the government or corruption at a private company, the attorneys of Hersh & Hersh will investigate your claim, advise you on your options and protect your rights. To learn more, please contact our office for a free consultation and case evaluation.

From our offices in San Francisco, California, the lawyers of Hersh & Hersh represent clients in whistleblower lawsuits nationwide.