Whistleblowing 101
As whistleblowers ourselves, we understand what you are going through.
Right now, you are probably overwhelmed, confused and not sure what to do next.
You are at the beginning of a very important journey that could be life changing, for you and for so many others.
First, take a breath. You are one of the few, one of the brave.
You can do this.
The First Steps:
Where Do I Start?
First and foremost, be strategic.
This is advice that we wish someone had given us on day one of our whistleblowing journey. Think through every decision in terms of how it may potentially impact your future whistleblowing case.
Next, forgive yourself. You will make mistakes on this journey, perhaps you already have. Our team can help you figure out next steps regardless of your situation.
Sometimes, it’s unclear how to proceed in the safest and most logical way – especially given the set of circumstances you’re faced with.
Reach out to us. The more knowledge you have, the more in control you will be of the situation.
The sooner you call us, the sooner we can help you avoid common mistakes. Don’t worry about having all your information organized, documents sorted, etc. We like to start with our clients as early in the process as possible, this will increase your chances for success.
Employment:
Keep Working, Resign,
or Already Fired?
If you are still employed with the company, try to stay employed. We realize that your situation may be very difficult. If you have been vocal about the fraud, the company may have retaliated or isolated you. Don’t leave quite yet. Use your employment as an opportunity to build your case. Try to be strategic about when you leave – we are happy to discuss with you what that means.
Have you already quit or been fired? Don’t panic. Whistleblowers can still file cases even if they are no longer employed with the company. In addition, there are a number of whistleblower protections that ensure retribution for employer retaliation as a result of blowing the whistle.
What is
Whistleblowing?
Blowing the whistle is a big decision, and not one to be taken lightly. Whistleblowers, also called relators, are those who see something wrong and choose to speak up about it. It’s certainly a hard decision to make, but whistleblowers prioritize doing what’s right over what’s easy.
There are a number of ways in which a potential relator can blow the whistle. Our consultants have the experience to know which avenue a whistleblower should take to ensure they receive the maximum whistleblower reward and the highest level of whistleblower protections available. We aim to inform, guide, and protect our clients, at all costs – your success is our number one priority.
What is the
Whistleblowing
Process?
First, give us a call. We will walk you through the journey because it gets complicated! You will want to collect evidence and build the best possible whistleblower case. We will work with you through this process.
The ultimate goal is to file a document called a complaint with the Department of Justice. This document outlines the fraud for the government and hopefully spurs an investigation. This complaint is filed under seal. That means the case is a secret. This enables the government to conduct their investigation more efficiently.
Once a case has been filed, the process varies depending on the nuances of the fraud. The road to settlement may be long, but our firm promises to walk it with you every step of the way.
How Do I
Build My Case?
The building blocks of any whistleblower case will outline the fraudulent scheme in terms of: Who, What, When, Where, and How.
Take detailed notes immediately after concerning events or write down previous things that you remember. These notes will help the government investigate.
As a relator, it is important to keep the details of your whistleblower case private. The False Claims Act’s “First to File” rule ensures that multiple people cannot file a whistleblower case with the same information, and only the first person to blow the whistle will be rewarded. Therefore, it is important that you collect the information for your case quietly; though it may be tempting to discuss with coworkers or others that are privy to the fraud, it is in your best interest to pursue this independently.
There are limitations to what falls under the First-to-File rule in qui tam cases, and others being aware of the fraud does not necessarily bar you from having a successful whistleblower case. During your consultation, our team will explore different approaches that will still allow you to receive whistleblower reward.
What Documents
Do I Need?
If possible, collect and save all documents. You never know what information will help with an investigation. Evidence can include anything that you see during regular duties of your employment, including documents, spreadsheets, invoices, cancelled checks, manuals, copies of emails, sales or marketing material, etc.
Some of the very best evidence is audio recordings of upper management admitting to fraud. However, don’t go out and buy a recording device just yet. Recording laws vary from state to state. Recording people without their express consent may be illegal. Call us and we can guide you through the proper ways to collect evidence.
Do Whistleblowers
Receive a Reward?
Yes, whistleblower rewards can be substantial, and are generally between 15-30% of any recoveries. In simplistic terms, this means you are entitled to a portion of fines paid by a company to the US Government. These fines are called settlements. Your award will vary based upon a number of factors. There are things you can do as a whistleblower to potentially increase your award.
Moving Forward:
What Do I Do Next?
Reach out to us via email or phone. We offer a 100% confidential and free case analysis, which usually takes about 30 to 90 minutes. As a whistleblower, this is your chance to tell your story and understand what options are available to you.
Often our team will do additional research after the call. If your case is promising, we will partner with you and move forward. Moving forward is different for every client. This may include additional evidence collection, organizing the documents you have, partnering you with a vetted whistleblower lawyer, etc. Once the case is deemed ready, a complaint will be drafted and ultimately filed with the US Government.
With Whistleblower Justice Network, you can move forward with confidence. We understand the journey you are about to undertake. We are with you, every step of the way!
Become a Whistleblower
A whistleblower claim may be brought against any type of business or organization, including healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, private and publicly-traded companies, federal, state and local government agencies, and public and private educational institutions.
Please fill out our form for a free and confidential case review.
Your Privacy
Your communications are secured and sent over 256-bit SSL encryption. Protect your identity and confidentiality, do not use any devices owned or controlled by a private corporation or governmental entity. It is also recommended to protect your online identity by establishing a new email account that does not identify you and to avoid the use of other online platforms that may disclose your identity. We hope we will be able to help you. Please fill out the contact form so we can get back to you. Any content you provide will be confidential and privileged to the fullest extent of the law.
Your Privacy
Your communications are secured and sent over 256-bit SSL encryption. Protect your identity and confidentiality, do not use any devices owned or controlled by a private corporation or governmental entity. It is also recommended to protect your online identity by establishing a new email account that does not identify you and to avoid the use of other online platforms that may disclose your identity. We hope we will be able to help you. Please fill out the contact form so we can get back to you. Any content you provide will be confidential and privileged to the fullest extent of the law.
Our Strategy
Though each case is fundamentally different from the next, the way we approach them remains similar. We’ve tweaked our strategy over the course of the last twenty years to accommodate for ever-changing laws and provisions, and it has allowed us to recover billions of dollars that would have otherwise been lost to fraud schemes.
01
Case Analysis
02
Partnership
At Whistleblower Justice Network, we partner with numerous world-class whistleblower law firms – which allows us to assign a team that is tailored specifically to the case at hand.
03
Case Filing
Whistleblower Justice Network has over 20 years of experience in analyzing, filing, and consulting on dozens of whistleblower actions.
Working with whistleblowers is all we do. We are whistleblowers.
Our case analysts help whistleblowers fully understand, organize and refine the information that they have in their possession. Complemented by our understanding of a wide array of healthcare and financial fraud, Whistleblower Justice Network will help you make your best case, determine the most appropriate law firm to handle your case, and ensure that your case receives the attention it deserves every step of the way.
Contact us today and let us explain how we work with whistleblowers in pursuit of justice against those who defraud the U.S. government, and each of us as its citizens. Working with whistleblowers, and filing whistleblower actions is all we do as a company. We are whistleblowers ourselves, and we love what we do.
Our clients and Whistleblower Justice Network, together we make a difference.
Free Consultation
We offer an in-depth analysis of your potential case and a comprehensive education in whistleblowing – completely free of charge.
100% Confidential
We understand the importance of privacy in such sensitive matters, and will never share your information without consent.
Available 24/7/365
Our dedicated team of professionals is working around the clock to ensure that no case goes unheard.