Qui tam lawyer Renée Brooker breaks down what whistleblowers need to know before coming forward with information about fraud and filing a False Claims Act claim. Learn when you should contact a whistleblower lawyer and the types of evidence you should have to support your False Claims Act case.
If you have information of fraud committed against the government, contact our whistleblower law firm as soon as possible. These cases are time sensitive and any delay may make you ineligible for a potential monetary reward.
Watch the video or read the transcript below.
Video Transcript
Speaker: Tycko & Zavareei LLP Partner Renée Brooker
If you are considering blowing the whistle by filing a False Claims Act case, keep these three things in mind.
Report Fraud as Soon as Possible to Protect Your Right to a Possible Reward
Move quickly. Find a top notch attorney and gather your evidence first. Don’t delay. The False Claims Act has what is called a first to file provision, which means that if someone beat you to the courthouse, that other person will be entitled to the reward because the government will not pay to whistleblowers. It’s also more challenging to prove your case if the fraud occurred a long time ago.
Find an Experienced False Claims Act Attorney
Second, find an attorney you like who has successfully handled False Claims Act cases. For one thing, the law does not allow you to handle a false claims case on your own. There are also unique procedures that a whistleblower must follow to obtain a reward. If your lawyer doesn’t understand how the process works, you risk losing your right to a reward. You want an attorney who can protect your rights and fight for you.
Gather Evidence that Supports Your Allegations of Fraud
Third: evidence matters. To make a strong case, you need evidence to corroborate what you are alleging. By evidence, we mean internal company documents such as email or Slack or teams messaging, PowerPoint presentations, calendars, org charts, billing records, contract documents, patient medical records, any documents that help to educate the government about your allegations.
There are exceptions under HIPAA for reporting fraud. You should discuss this with your attorney and ideally, before you leave your job.
Ready to Blow the Whistle? Contact Tycko & Zavareei LLP
Please reach out to us at Tycko & Zavareei LLP for a free and confidential evaluation.