Whistleblower Lawsuits
Whistleblower Lawsuits
The Government Enforcement & Compliance group at Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. (SHB) has successfully helped clients navigate government enforcement efforts increasingly fueled by whistleblower lawsuits, congressional scrutiny and media reports. As the number of whistleblower lawsuits continues to rise rapidly, the SHB Government Enforcement & Compliance Practice has kept pace with the latest legal developments to combat these multi-pronged offensives. Because actions initiated by the U.S. Department of Justice and other regulatory agencies often involve parallel state and federal cases, third-party litigation and highly-publicized speculation, SHB stresses a comprehensive approach that combines defense expertise with effective compliance counseling and an advanced public relations strategy. Moving beyond the purview of traditional “white-collar” defense, SHB government enforcement attorneys leverage the firm’s extensive resources and technical infrastructure to deliver integrated solutions to these whistleblower lawsuits.
Whistleblower lawsuits is the name given to the suits filed under the False Claims Act. Due to its extensive size and numerous functions, the federal government cannot adequately protect itself against fraud and financial abuses without the help of ordinary citizens. The False Claims Act, also known as Lincoln's Law, the Informer's Act or the Qui Tam Statute, allows a private citizen to sue a person or company that is fraudulently billing the federal government. Actions under this law typically involve government spending programs such as health care, education, social security or the U.S. military. Several states have also created False Claims Act statutes, which enable them to recover money at the state level. People who file actions under the False Claims Act are informally referred to as “whistleblowers.” The False Claims Act requires that the lawsuit be filed under seal so that the Department of Justice can investigate and decide whether it will pursue the case.
Our talented team of attorneys has extensive experience with whistleblower lawsuits. Contact us to learn more.
