Fraud can happen anywhere, including the workplace. People who witness or suspect fraud may become whistleblowers by reporting what they see to a Los Angeles whistleblower lawyer, who can then help figure out if they have a valid case.
Whistleblowers who report fraud against the government are eligible for protection against retaliation by their employer. In addition to preventing further fraud and having the satisfaction of doing the right thing, whistleblowers in Los Angeles may be eligible to receive substantial financial awards for providing non-public information to the government. If you believe you have knowledge of fraud, schedule a free legal consultation with the Los Angeles whistleblower lawyers at Tycko & Zavareei LLP.
Los Angeles Whistleblower Lawyer Case Types
Fraud in Los Angeles can occur across multiple industries and sectors. A whistleblower in a qui tam lawsuit may be an employee who has reasonable suspicion of fraud based on the requests they receive or the communications, documents, and inaccuracies they see in their day-to-day work. Some of the common types of fraud include, but are not limited to:
- Healthcare fraud: Healthcare fraud can take many forms, including fraud against the Medicare and Medicaid systems. A healthcare organization may engage in ‘upcoding’ where they consistently report more expensive procedures than what they performed to claim a higher payout from the insurer. Or a doctor or hospital may accept money or gifts in exchange for prescribing certain medications billed at a higher rate. Other times a healthcare provider will bill for services that were never performed. If you have knowledge of healthcare fraud in LA, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Learn More: Los Angeles Healthcare Fraud FAQs
- Securities fraud: If you are aware of violations of securities laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or bribery of foreign government officials, you may want to report securities fraud to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in exchange for a financial reward. Under the SEC Whistleblower Program, you may be eligible to receive 10-30% of the recovery amount. Learn More: Los Angeles Securities Fraud FAQs
- Commodities fraud: The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Whistleblower Reward Program rewards individuals 10-30% of the recovery amount for reporting fraud in commodity futures, options, over-the-counter derivatives, swaps, and other violations. If you are aware of any such commodities fraud schemes, you should speak with a Los Angeles qui tam attorney. Learn More: Los Angeles Commodities Fraud FAQs
- Banking fraud: If you would like to blow the whistle on false or fraudulent claims involving financial institutions, banks, mortgage companies, or services, you may want to hire an attorney who has an expertise in whistleblower lawsuits in LA. Learn More: Los Angeles Banking Fraud FAQs
- Customs and tariffs fraud: Whether you are an insider, consumer, or a competitor, an LA whistleblower attorney can help you prepare your case if you have non-public information on customs and tariffs violations in Los Angeles. These include evasion of tariffs, falsification of the value or quantity of imported products, underpayment of customs duties through false records, or failure to properly mark the imported goods with the country of origin, leading to imposition of marking duties. Learn More: Los Angeles Customs and Tariffs Fraud FAQs
- Government contracts fraud: Government contractors are relied upon to deliver vital services and products for our country and local governments. However, sometimes they may violate the False Claims Act and misappropriate government funds. Government contract fraud in Los Angeles may be committed in various ways, such as bid-rigging, underbidding, cross-charging and other dishonest practices. Learn More: Los Angeles Government Contracts Fraud FAQs
- Other government programs fraud: If you have good reason to believe that an entity has committed fraud in order to secure or misappropriate research grants, federally-funded student loans, crop insurance, or other government funding, you should consider reaching out to a Los Angeles qui tam attorney to help you blow the whistle. Learn More: Los Angeles Other Government Programs Fraud FAQs
When Should I Contact a Whistleblower Attorney in Los Angeles?
If you have enough credible information to know or suspect that your organization is committing fraud, you should contact an LA whistleblower attorney immediately. A qui tam attorney can help you figure out your next steps, such as confirming violations of applicable laws, collecting evidence, and protecting yourself from potential employer retaliation. Legal counsel with extensive qui tam experience can then guide you through the legal process, answer your questions, and help you maximize your whistleblower reward. Any delay in reporting fraud may hurt your chances of receiving whistleblower reward.
California Whistleblower Laws
Here are some of the applicable whistleblower laws in California:
California Whistleblower Protection Act
The California Whistleblower Protection Act, as set forth in Government Code 8547, protects California employees from retaliation against exposing fraudulent practices where the employee has reason to believe their employer is violating a state or federal statute, or is otherwise not compliant with the relevant applicable laws of Los Angeles, California, or the United States. An employee cannot directly or indirectly use their official authority or influence to intimidate or threaten to interfere with a whistleblower’s right to report fraud.
CA False Claims Act
The California False Claims Act (CFCA) is one of the most robust state whistleblower laws in the country. It amends the federal False Claims Act to incentivize employees to come forward with information on organizations defrauding the California state government. The CFCA allows whistleblowers to receive awards between 25-50% of the recovered funds in the event of a successful qui tam lawsuit.
Federal False Claims Act
The federal False Claims Act (FCA) allows private citizens to file qui tam suits on behalf of the government against defrauders in exchange for whistleblower awards. The FCA was passed in 1863 during the American Civil War, and has been amended many times since to encompass fraud across multiple industries. Under this Act, anyone who knowingly makes false claims to the government can be held liable for treble damages, along with certain financial penalties. The FCA has a number of specific exceptions, such as an exception for tax fraud which is covered under the IRS Whistleblower Program.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act oversees the audit of public companies to ensure their compliance under the securities laws. Section 806 of the Act protects employees who report fraud or ethical violations from employer retaliation. The protected whistleblowers must reasonably believe that there has been a violation of securities law or other federal laws related to fraud against shareholders.
The Dodd-Frank Act
The Dodd-Frank Act allows a private individual to provide information to the CFTC regarding fraud in connection with the sale of commodities. It was enacted to promote financial stability by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system. One of its primary purposes is to protect consumers from abusive financial services practices.
Health and Safety Code 1278.5
The Health and Safety Code 1278.5 encourages patients, nurses, medical staff, and other health care workers to notify the government of suspected unsafe patient care and conditions. Whistleblower protections are mainly applicable to issues relating to the care, services, and conditions of a health facility. Further, a healthcare facility cannot discriminate or retaliate against a whistleblower, whether it is a patient, employee, medical staff or a healthcare worker, for reporting its wrongdoings to the government.
How Can a Los Angeles Whistleblower Attorney Help Me?
An experienced LA qui tam attorney understands the legal intricacies of whistleblower cases. They can help you understand the relevant laws that can protect you, as well as review evidence to determine whether or not you would be eligible to file a whistleblower lawsuit in Los Angeles.
After an initial consultation with a qui tam lawyer, one of the following may happen:
- Insufficient evidence: If your evidence is insufficient to start an investigation, no further action would be taken unless new evidence can be obtained. Your whistleblower lawyer can advise you on the types of evidence to secure.
- A lawsuit is filed, but misconduct cannot be proven: The government may begin an investigation, but may be unable to turn up any proof of fraud. Your anonymity would still be legally protected, and you will not be in legal trouble so long as your disclosure was made in good faith.
- A lawsuit is filed and misconduct is proven: If the government decides to intervene and file a lawsuit against a company or individual committing fraud against them, the whistleblower may be eligible to receive a reward for a successful lawsuit.
At Tycko and Zavareei LLP, we represent whistleblowers across the country and have helped them secure large settlements. Our clients have received substantial whistleblower rewards for their help in uncovering fraudulent practices across multiple industries.
What Evidence Do I Need to File a Los Angeles Whistleblower Case?
It is often tricky to understand what evidence is relevant in a Los Angeles whistleblower case. An LA whistleblower attorney can guide you through what kinds of documents and proof is necessary in order to prove fraud occurred. This may include financial documents, emails, screenshots of internal chat messages, internal memos, and more. In order to be eligible for a reward, the information and evidence you provide should be unique and not previously disclosed.
At Tycko and Zavareei LLP, your initial legal consultation is free and confidential, so you can be assured that any information you share will be protected.
How to Choose a Los Angeles Whistleblower Law Firm
When selecting a Los Angeles qui tam law firm, you want to consider all the relevant factors, such as attorney expertise, credentials, and firm resources. Your lawyers should have extensive experience in qui tam lawsuits of the type similar to the one you wish to bring, and demonstrated success in past qui tam cases. Whistleblower litigation can take years, so it is important to hire a law firm with the right resources to see yours to a successful resolution.
We have a proven track record of success in whistleblower lawsuits in the Los Angeles area. Our partners have decades of experience in handling complex qui tam matters. We offer representation on a contingency-fee basis which means we only get paid if your case is successful. We also have the means to fund litigation expenses and the drive to devote ourselves fully to the case in hand.
If I Prevail in My Los Angeles Qui Tam Lawsuit, Am I Entitled to a Reward?
A Los Angeles whistleblower may be entitled to significant rewards under laws and whistleblower programs such as the False Claims Act, the SEC Whistleblower Program, the IRS Whistleblower Program, and more.
As an LA qui tam relator who files a successful whistleblower lawsuit, you may be awarded a monetary amount between 15-25% of the total defrauded funds recovered by the federal government. In case the government is not a party to the suit and you pursue the case on your own, you may be eligible to receive up to 30% of the successfully recovered funds. For successful claims filed on behalf of the California State government, whistleblowers may be eligible to receive up to 50% of the amount recovered.
Whistleblower Lawyer Near Me
Looking for a whistleblower lawyer in the LA area? Our office is conveniently located in the northern central part of the west side of Los Angeles at Suite 1101, 10880 Wilshire Boulevard. Also called The Oppenheimer Tower, 10880 Wilshire is situated at the corner of Wilshire and Westwood Boulevards. It is close to Beverly Hills, Century City, and Brentwood, with convenient access to 405 and I-10 freeways. It is also walking distance from UCLA.
Whistleblower Attorney in Los Angeles: FAQs
1. Are whistleblowers protected in California?
Yes, whistleblowers seeking to report fraud in the state of California are protected against a broad array of retaliatory actions. These may include discriminatory practices such as demotion, suspension, marginalization, harassment, and constructive discharge by the employer.
2. What is the timeline for filing a Los Angeles whistleblower case?
Whistleblower lawsuits are long and complicated, and may take up to several years, depending on the case. When filing a Los Angeles whistleblower lawsuit, the first step is to work with a qui tam attorney to prepare necessary documents to send to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ investigates the evidence to determine whether the claim has teeth. This process may last about 18 months, although it may be shorter or longer for individual cases. The final phase, i.e. active litigation, may then take up to many years.
3. Who can become a Los Angeles whistleblower?
Anyone with nonpublic information about fraud against the government can be a whistleblower, whether or not they are an employee. An LA whistleblower should seek to bring such nonpublic information in the form of documentation or memorialization in some kind of document. The most common whistleblowers include mid-to-low level employees, competitors, and data analysis experts.
4. Are Los Angeles whistleblowers protected from employer retaliation?
Yes, LA whistleblowers are protected from retaliation by their employers, such as suspension, demotion, termination, withholding pay or benefits, harassment, or any other form of discrimination for exposing fraud.
5. How much does a Los Angeles whistleblower attorney cost?
A majority of Los Angeles whistleblower attorneys, including Tycko & Zavareei LLP, operate on contingency fees. This means they are only paid if the case is successful. In most instances, attorney fees are covered by the defendant. This payment structure allows you to seek legal assistance risk-free.
Have You Witnessed Fraud? Speak to an Experienced Los Angeles Whistleblower Attorney
Speaking up about fraud is a courageous act that can make a difference for businesses, governments, and taxpayers alike. A whistleblower in a qui tam lawsuit can be any person who witnesses fraud and alerts the authorities. They do not need to be high-ranking officials or C-suite employees to expose the wrongdoing.
Are you ready to talk about fraud you have witnessed in Los Angeles? Contact Tycko & Zavareei LLP today. Our experienced whistleblower lawyers are here to help. We understand the complexities of qui tam lawsuits and can guide you through this long and complicated process. Should you have any questions, we are happy to answer them for you.
