Fraud is unfortunately common in Tennessee and throughout the United States. Unscrupulous companies think they can get away with lying to the government and stealing American tax dollars. It can be challenging for the government to catch fraud on its own, so it often relies on help from people inside the company or group committing fraud to report suspicious activity. When these whistleblowers come forward, the dishonest practices of the company can be brought to an end, and the money can go where it is supposed to.
If you are ready to expose fraud, a Tennessee whistleblower lawyer is prepared to help. Schedule a free consultation with Tycko & Zavareei LLP today to get started.
What Types of Fraud Can Whistleblowers Expose?
There are many different types of fraud. In general, fraud is when an individual or group lies or withholds information in order to gain money. For example, some companies lie about their income or expenses in order to pay a lower amount in taxes.
Other times, a business might charge the government more for its services than it charges non-government customers. For example, construction or building companies might purposefully overestimate the cost of their work and materials when they do work for the government.
Fraud is particularly common in the healthcare system. Hospitals and doctors may submit false claims to governmentally funded groups like Medicare and Medicaid in order to obtain undue funding. Whistleblowers in Tennessee can help expose fraud by filing a whistleblower lawsuit under the False Claims Act with the assistance of a lawyer.
What Protections do Whistleblowers in Tennessee Have?
The False Claims Act is a federal law protecting anyone who comes forward to expose fraud. The False Claims Act allows you to sue your employer for fraud on behalf of the US government. Both the False Claims Act and the Tennessee Public Protection Act (TPPA) prohibit your employer from retaliating against you for reporting their alleged fraud attempts. If your employer does terminate you, for example, for blowing the whistle on fraud, you may file a separate claim for damages such as back pay and reinstatement.
The False Claims Act also offers an incentive for whistleblowers to come forward with inside information. As a whistleblower, you get to keep a percentage of the recovered amount if your case is successful.
What Amount Can I Recover from a Whistleblower Lawsuit in Tennessee?
In a whistleblower lawsuit, the amount you can recover will depend on the specifics of your case. As the whistleblower, you get to keep a certain percentage of the recovered amount, while the rest goes back to the US government. Under the False Claims Act, you get to keep between 15 and 30 percent of the recovered amount.
If the fraud was substantial, the amount you receive will likely be higher than if it was only a minor fraud case. However, it is impossible to know the exact amount until you have won your case.
Can I file a whistleblower lawsuit on behalf of the Tennessee government?
Some states have their own versions of the False Claims Acts that offer similar protections and rewards to whistleblowers who help expose fraud against a state government. These laws allow citizens to file qui tam lawsuits on behalf of the state government. In addition to the aforementioned TPPA, which offers whistleblowers protection from employer retaliation, Tennessee has state whistleblower provisions for certain types of fraud.
Specifically, the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act allows whistleblowers to file lawsuits on behalf of the Tennessee state government in cases involving Medicaid fraud. A whistleblower attorney can go over the details of your case to see if you are eligible to file a Tennessee qui tam lawsuit on behalf of the state or federal government.
How Can a Whistleblower Lawyer Help Me with My Case?
The law requires whistleblowers to retain legal representation when exposing fraud against the government. When you work with our qui tam attorneys, we can help you in the following ways:
- Reviewing the evidence you have collected
- Determining whether you are eligible to file a whistleblower lawsuit in Tennessee
- Going over your legal options and what the process of filing a whistleblower lawsuit would look like
- Answering any questions you have about whistleblower lawsuits
- Helping you fill out the necessary paperwork, so you do not miss any deadlines
- Guiding you through filing a whistleblower lawsuit from start to finish
We recognize that coming forward with inside information is both daunting and confusing. We want to make this process go as smoothly as possible for you.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Whistleblower Lawyer?
Tycko & Zavareei LLP will only charge you for our services if your case is successful. If you win your case, we take a percentage of your total recovery to cover our legal fees. You get to keep the remaining amount. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not owe us anything. This contingency fee structure allows you to get the legal advice you need risk free and at no upfront cost.
Get a Free Consultation with a Tennessee Whistleblower Attorney Today
The lawyers at Tycko & Zavareei LLP are experienced in helping whistleblowers do the right and report fraud. We can help you understand your options and assist you every step of the way. Let a Tennessee whistleblower lawyer help you get the process started. Call our qui tam law firm today to book your free consultation.
