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Alan Lescht and Associates represents private sector employees in whistleblower retaliation and False Claims Act cases in Washington, DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia.
Whistleblowers are employees who report their employer’s criminal activity or other unlawful conduct. Employers' fraudulent and illegal activities often go unreported because employees are afraid of retaliation. However, federal and state laws protect employees who seek to hold their employers accountable. You may have a claim for whistleblower retaliation if you were fired, suspended, or suffered another type of employment action because you reported your employer’s unlawful conduct.
Your rights depend on whom you work for, where you work, and what you reported. The False Claims Act (FCA) is a federal law that protects workers who report fraud against the government. The FCA gives private citizens the right to file a special type of lawsuit, called a qui tam action, against employers or contractors who make false claims for payment from the federal government. If you win a qui tam lawsuit, you are entitled to a percentage of the money recovered. However, there are strict requirements for qui tam lawsuits. For example, you must be the first person to report the wrongdoing. You must also file the lawsuit under seal so that the employer or contractor who submitted the false claim will not immediately learn about the charges. This allows the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) a chance to investigate your claims. If DOJ discovers evidence of fraud, it may join in the lawsuit.
The FCA is not the only law that prohibits whistleblower retaliation. Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia each have their own laws that protect employees who blow the whistle. They also have their own false claims acts.
If you reported your employer's unlawful conduct or false claims for federal payment, we can help. Our attorneys will work with you to evaluate your case, discuss your options, and develop a strategy to assert your rights. Alan Lescht and Associates represents clients in connection with whistleblower retaliation and False Claims Act matters in Washington, DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia:
Send us an email or call us at (202) 463-6036 to speak with an experienced employment attorney. Alan Lescht and Associates offers strategic and results-driven legal services to clients in Washington, DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia, and to federal government employees around the world.