Friday, June 14, 2013

The Consequences Faced by Whistleblowers

The New York Times had recently reported that the number of whistleblowers that file charges against their employers is on the rise. The Office of the Whistleblower, created by the Securities and Exchange Commission, received 2,700 tips in 2011. It was also the first year of the office’s operation, and the number continued to increase every year. COO Sean McKessy is convinced by the quality of tips reported to his office, requiring claimants to sign a declaration under penalty of perjury that the tips submitted are based on facts. Although the rewards for whistleblowers may reach up to millions of dollars, experts would still advice them to think it hard about their move. Lawyers think of this process as emotionally costly that sometimes a monetary reward may not be enough to compensate. Much will be lost if the lawsuit is not won over by the claimant, including his job, house, other sources of income and other properties financed by the accused employer.

Ironically, the person behind the implementation of fraud will not lose his job. There is a higher chance that person will be promoted yet again. The marginalization by employers and emotional harassment are sometime a deal breaker whether to pursue the case or not. So, whistleblowers must take their time in thinking about their next move with the help of a False Claims Act specialist. A highly experienced whistleblower lawyer will make a great difference in the fate of your lawsuit, leaning towards successful results. Qui tam or fraud cases will take years before arriving to the court’s decision. It is during these times that you will need a specialist expertise to deliver the right representation of your case and make it less stressful for you. Hire whistleblower lawyers who have experience in representing different clients against different industries so that you can gain better understanding of False Claims Act regulations and conditions in your state.

Multi-million dollar qui tam cases usually get to a chaotic level. There is also a big possibility of media hype that will make your life a lot more difficult, which only experienced and successful whistleblower attorneys could offer you a way out. A couple of ways to fasten the trial process and solidify your win is by getting the government involved in the case and by acquiring monetary support.

First, the Department of Justice’s involvement may get you more sources for legal assistance to help you seek solid evidence. Secondly, financial backing from certain group of people may reduce your expenses along the laborious process. This support can be spent on hiring an industry-leading whistleblower attorney, consultants and assistants to make sure that everything on your side is well-organized. Getting a good combination of such aspects can increase your chances of winning the lawsuit and make all the fights worth it. Whistleblowers should still keep in mind that the rewards must not be the sole motivation for pursuing qui tam cases. Whistleblowers are expected of surfacing all malicious activities of a company committed against the government.