Whistleblower Attorney in Bedford-Stuyvesant
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False Claims Attorney Bedford-Stuyvesant
You could receive 15-30% of whatever the government recovers when your case succeeds. That’s not small change—we’re talking about cases that often result in millions of dollars in government recoveries.
Our lawyers have helped clients recover millions of dollars, including an $80 million settlement in an employment discrimination class action. We know how to build cases that get results.
The best part? You won’t owe us any attorneys’ fees unless you win. We handle everything on a contingency basis because we believe in the cases we take.
Qui Tam Attorney Bedford-Stuyvesant
For 20 years, we represented companies like Pfizer, Texaco, Citibank, and Sony as partners in large corporate law firms, working with the smartest lawyers in the country and arguing in the U.S. Supreme Court. Now we use that same level of expertise to protect individuals.
For a small law firm in New York City, The Howley Law Firm has an unprecedented level of experience to offer our clients, accepting serious cases from serious clients so every case receives our full attention. Bedford-Stuyvesant residents have dealt with employment law issues for decades, and we understand the unique challenges workers face in this community.
John Howley has been awarded the Medal for Excellence in Advocacy by the American College of Trial Lawyers, The Thurgood Marshall Award by the New York City Bar Association, and has been named one of New York’s SuperLawyers.
Whistleblower Law Bedford-Stuyvesant Process
First, we sit down for a free, confidential consultation to understand what you’ve witnessed. During your initial consultation, we will work with you to assess your eligibility to serve as a federal whistleblower. We’ll explain exactly what the process involves and what you can expect.
After filing a lawsuit, the government will investigate the claim and evidence, and the lawsuit is filed under seal. This means your employer won’t know about the case while the government investigates. This secrecy gives the government enough time to investigate the fraud allegation, and you may be worried about immediate retaliation from the individual or business who committed fraud, but they won’t know about the qui tam case while federal employees conduct an investigation.
You and we continue to assist the government with the lawsuit, and after filing the lawsuit, the government will investigate the fraud allegations with our assistance and decide whether or not to intervene or join in the case. Whether they join or not, you still have the right to pursue your case and receive compensation.
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Retaliation Attorney Bedford-Stuyvesant Services
The New York False Claims Act allows whistleblowers to file “qui tam” lawsuits against those who defraud the state and offers whistleblowers job protection and rewards, imposing liability on persons who knowingly present false or fraudulent claims for payment to the state or local governments. The New York law uniquely applies whistleblower rewards and the right of the individual to sue on behalf of the government to tax fraud cases.
Bedford-Stuyvesant has seen cases where employees were allegedly fired in retaliation for reporting unsafe working conditions, with workers complaining to OSHA and facing termination. We know how to handle these local retaliation issues.
Relators who investigate and/or file qui tam cases are generally protected from unlawful retaliation under the false claims act statutes, and New York law protects employees from retaliation for reporting any type of violation of law. We make sure those protections actually work for you.
How much money can I get as a whistleblower in New York?
According to the New York False Claims Act, a whistleblower who files a successful claim may receive between 15 and 25 percent of any recovery if the state intervenes in the matter, and if the state does not intervene, a whistleblower is entitled to an award between 25% – 30% of the amount recovered.
The New York False Claims Act allows for penalties of $6,000 to $12,000 per violation, attorney fees and costs, and up to three times the loss or fraud in damages—for example, if someone defrauded a New York state or local government of $200,000 through two violations, they could face a total penalty of up to $624,000. Your percentage of that recovery can be substantial.
The key is having a strong case with solid evidence. We evaluate every potential case carefully to determine if it meets the legal requirements for a successful whistleblower claim.
What if my employer retaliates against me for reporting fraud?
Retaliation occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee for lawfully asserting their rights under federal and state employment laws, and actions such as unfair treatment, demotion, or termination in response to a complaint or lawsuit against an employer can be considered retaliation.
The law encourages and protects employees who complain about their employer’s unlawful behavior, and consistent with that, it is illegal for an employer to fire an employee or take other adverse action against that employee for complaining about unlawful behavior. We have known whistleblowers who have had their physical safety threatened, paychecks reduced, benefits slashed, and promised promotions forfeited—and those are just the employees who weren’t fired outright.
We fight back hard against retaliation. The good news is that damages in these cases often acknowledge the inevitable loss of reputation and grievous harm to one’s career suffered by the whistleblower, and other awards are available for whistleblowers reporting fraud against the government. You don’t have to face this alone.
How long do I have to file a whistleblower case in New York?
According to the New York False Claims Act, whistleblowers must generally file a qui tam complaint within ten years of the violations they are reporting, and under the New York False Claims Act, a civil action must be brought no later than 10 years after the violation was committed.
Under the federal False Claims Act, a whistleblower must file their claim within 6 years of the violation being committed, or within 3 years of when the government learned—or reasonably should have known—relevant facts about the violation (whichever occurs later), and in no event may a claim be filed more than 10 years after the violation.
Determining the correct timeline can be confusing, and waiting too long can be a mistake because evidence can get lost, other people could file their case first, the matter may become public information, or the statute of limitations can expire, so it is important to act quickly so that you don’t miss an opportunity for compensation as a relator. Don’t wait—call us as soon as you discover the fraud.
Do I need proof of fraud before contacting a whistleblower attorney?
After filing a lawsuit, the government will investigate the claim and evidence, and the whistleblower need not have all the evidence themselves; the investigation can uncover new evidence or witnesses. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you call us.
When you contact us, you do not have to be prepared to move forward with filing a complaint, and you are under no obligation to do so—we are here to advise you and to represent you if you make the decision to serve as a federal whistleblower. We will not pressure you to file a complaint, and we will not charge you any out-of-pocket fees or costs regardless of what you decide to do.
What matters is that you have firsthand knowledge of fraud or illegal activity. We can help you determine if what you’ve witnessed meets the legal standards for a whistleblower case. The consultation is free and confidential, so there’s no risk in talking to us about what you know.
What types of fraud can I report as a whistleblower?
Qui tam cases can be brought in a wide range of industries and can be based on just about any form of fraud, and under both the federal and New York State False Claims Acts, an employee may be able to sue an employer to protect the government when the employee believes the employer has defrauded the government by knowingly submitting false or exaggerated invoices to the government.
We also represent individuals who need to report fraud under federal grants, as federal grant fraud is a pervasive issue that negatively impacts nearly all sectors, and violations of the Dodd-Frank Act remain commonplace, with whistleblowers playing an important role in holding companies and financial institutions accountable.
The New York whistleblower law also covers violations of the tax law, including submission of a fraudulent return, provided that the violator has an income over $1 million and the harm to the state exceeds $350,000, and the New York law uniquely applies whistleblower rewards to tax fraud cases if the net income or sales of the person against whom the action is brought equals or exceeds $1 million for any taxable year and the damages pleaded in such action exceed $350,000. Healthcare fraud, defense contract fraud, and securities violations are also common areas we handle.
Will my employer find out I contacted a whistleblower lawyer?
Citizens can file lawsuits “qui tam,” which means “under seal”—nobody except for government officials will have access to the content of the lawsuit, and this secrecy gives the government enough time to investigate the fraud allegation. You may be worried about immediate retaliation from the individual or business who committed fraud, but the person charged with fraud will not know about the qui tam case while federal employees conduct an investigation.
Our initial consultation is completely confidential. We are truly here to help, and we want you to contact us with your questions and concerns. We provide safe haven for credible whistleblowers, acting as a forceful advocate for restoring your reputation and good name, and we embrace the broader understanding of “counselor”—we’re here to listen to you when you need to know how to handle your coworkers, or how to respond to an email from your boss after he or she has been made aware that you hired a lawyer.
Even after we file a case, it remains under seal during the government’s investigation period. Your employer won’t know you’ve taken action until the government decides whether to intervene, giving you maximum protection during the most critical phase of your case.
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