A whistleblower is a person, usually an employee, who reports information or activity that is deemed illegal, fraudulent, unsafe, or illicit.  There are a variety of whistleblower statutes that have been enacted to encourage employees to report such conduct.  For example, fraud and misconduct giving rise to a whistleblower claim can arise in several different contexts including:

 

• Fraud in publicly traded companies

• Healthcare, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud

• Pharmaceutical fraud

• Fraud in government contracts and other government programs

• Financial and investment fraud

•  Tax fraud and misconduct

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The whistleblower statutes prohibit whistleblower retaliation, i.e. prohibit an employer from retaliating against an employee for raising a concern about a possible violation or engaging in other protected activity.  Examples of retaliatory conduct can include:

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• Termination 

• Demotion

• Suspension

• Discrimination

• Harassment in the workplace

• Being subjected to a hostile or unsafe working environment

• Denial of benefits, promotions, or bonuses 

 

Time limits under these various statutes vary depending on which statute is at issue.  The time for filing a claim under many whistleblower protections begins to run when an employee learns he or she is being retaliated against, even if the retaliation is ongoing.  Therefore, it is important to consult an attorney quickly.   Lee Law Firm has significant experience handling whistleblower claims under various statutes.  Please contact us for a free attorney consultation.