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Alan Lescht and Associates represents state and local government employees in whistleblower retaliation and False Claims Act cases in Washington, DC, Maryland, and northern Virginia.
In the employment context, whistleblowers are employees who report their employer’s criminal activity or other misconduct. In many cases, employees do not report their employers because they are afraid of retaliation. However, federal and state laws protect whistleblowers. If your employer retaliated against you for reporting fraud or unlawful actions, you may have a claim for whistleblower retaliation.
Whether you have a claim depends on several factors, including your actions and your employer. The False Claims Act (FCA) is a federal law that protects workers who report fraud against the government. The FCA provides an incentive for private citizens who report fraud to the government. An individual can bring a special type of lawsuit, called a qui tam action, to sue a federal employer or contractor for filing a false claim for payment from the federal government. 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 your employer will not immediately learn about the charges. This gives the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) time to investigate your claims. If DOJ finds evidence of fraud, it may join in the lawsuit. If your case is successful, you are entitled to a percentage of the money recovered.
There are other state and federal laws that protect employees from whistleblower retaliation. For example, Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, have their own laws that prohibit whistleblower retaliation. These laws may also include special procedures that state and local government employees must follow to bring claims for whistleblower retaliation.
If you complained that your state or local government employer engaged in waste, fraud, or abuse, we can help. Our attorneys will evaluate the facts of your case, determine if you have a claim, and develop a litigation strategy. Alan Lescht and Associates represents clients in connection with whistleblower retaliation and False Claims Act matters:
If your state or government employer retaliated against you for blowing the whistle, send us an email or call us at (202) 463-6036 to schedule a consultation. 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.