Whistleblower Attorney in Bensonhurst, NY
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False Claims Attorney Bensonhurst
You took a risk to do what’s right. Now you deserve an attorney who can turn that courage into real compensation and protection from retaliation.
We’ve helped whistleblowers recover millions through False Claims Act cases, SEC violations, and Medicare fraud exposures. Our clients don’t just get financial rewards—they get peace of mind knowing they’re protected by federal law and their cases are handled by someone who’s argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.
When the government recovers money because of your information, you can receive 15-30% of that recovery. In major healthcare fraud cases, we’ve seen individual whistleblowers earn awards exceeding $50 million. But only if your case is filed correctly, on time, and with the evidence properly presented to federal prosecutors.
Qui Tam Attorney Bensonhurst NY
For over 20 years, we’ve specialized exclusively in whistleblower and employment law. We’re not a general practice firm trying to handle everything—we focus on what we do best, and we do it better than anyone.
Before founding The Howley Law Firm, our principal attorney spent two decades representing major corporations like Pfizer, Texaco, and Sony at a large corporate law firm. We know how these companies think, how they operate, and exactly how to beat them when they’re defrauding the government.
Bensonhurst residents deserve the same high-quality legal representation that Fortune 500 companies get. That’s exactly what we provide, with the personal attention and dedicated focus that only a boutique practice can deliver to each client.
Whistleblower Law Process Bensonhurst
First, we meet confidentially to review your information and determine if you have a viable qui tam case under the False Claims Act or other whistleblower laws. This consultation is completely free, and everything you tell us stays protected by attorney-client privilege.
If you have a strong case, we file your complaint under seal in federal court. This means only the government knows about it initially, protecting your identity while DOJ investigators review the evidence. The process typically takes 12-18 months, sometimes longer, while the government decides whether to intervene and join your case.
Throughout this entire process, you’re protected by federal anti-retaliation laws. If your employer tries to fire, demote, or harass you for whistleblowing, we can pursue additional damages including reinstatement, back pay, and up to $10,000 in civil penalties against the employer.
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Retaliation Attorney Bensonhurst Brooklyn
New York’s whistleblower laws are among the strongest in the nation. The state False Claims Act, combined with New York City’s own Local Law 53, gives Bensonhurst residents multiple powerful avenues for reporting fraud and securing both financial rewards and legal protection.
Healthcare fraud is particularly common throughout Brooklyn’s medical community. We’ve handled cases involving everything from local medical practices billing Medicare for services never provided, to major hospital systems in nearby areas submitting false claims worth millions. Kickback arrangements between doctors and medical device companies are especially prevalent in New York’s competitive healthcare market.
Financial fraud also thrives in New York’s business environment, from securities violations on Wall Street to tax evasion schemes affecting IRS collections. Whistleblowers with inside knowledge of these frauds can help the government recover substantial amounts while earning life-changing rewards for themselves and their families.
How much can I receive as a whistleblower in New York?
Whistleblower rewards typically range from 15-30% of whatever the government recovers from the fraudulent company. If the Department of Justice intervenes in your False Claims Act case, you’ll usually receive 15-25% of the total recovery. If they decline to intervene but you proceed successfully on your own, you can receive 25-30%.
In major cases, these percentages translate to millions of dollars for individual whistleblowers. We’ve seen healthcare fraud cases where single whistleblowers received awards exceeding $50 million when large hospital systems or pharmaceutical companies were caught defrauding Medicare. Even smaller cases involving local medical practices can result in six-figure rewards.
The key is having solid documentary evidence and filing your qui tam case properly under federal procedures. The government needs to see clear proof of the fraud, and your attorney needs to present it persuasively to make intervention attractive to federal prosecutors who handle hundreds of these cases.
What if my employer retaliates against me for whistleblowing?
Federal and New York state laws strictly prohibit any form of retaliation against whistleblowers. If your employer fires, demotes, harasses, reduces your pay, or discriminates against you for reporting fraud, you can sue for substantial additional damages beyond any whistleblower reward.
These retaliation damages can include full reinstatement to your position, compensation for all lost wages and benefits, up to $10,000 in civil penalties per violation, and even punitive damages if the retaliation was particularly malicious or egregious. You’re also entitled to have all your attorney fees paid by the employer if you prevail.
The key is documenting everything from the moment you report fraud. Save all emails, performance reviews, and any communications that show a change in how you’re treated after making your report. We help clients build ironclad retaliation cases that often result in substantial settlements completely separate from any whistleblower rewards.
How long do I have to file a whistleblower claim?
Timing is absolutely critical in whistleblower cases, and the deadlines vary depending on which law applies. Under the federal False Claims Act, you generally have six years from when the fraud occurred, or three years from when the government knew or should have known about it, whichever is later.
However, you also need to be the “first to file” under the False Claims Act. If someone else has already filed a qui tam case about the same fraudulent scheme, you may be completely barred from proceeding with your own case. This creates real urgency to act quickly once you discover evidence of fraud.
Some types of retaliation claims have much shorter deadlines—as little as 30 days for certain OSHA complaints and 180 days for other federal protections. That’s why it’s crucial to consult with an experienced false claims attorney immediately when you discover fraud or face any form of workplace retaliation for reporting wrongdoing.
Do I need to report fraud internally before becoming a whistleblower?
No, you’re absolutely not required to report fraud internally to your employer before filing a federal whistleblower case. In fact, internal reporting often works against whistleblowers by alerting the company to destroy evidence, cover up the fraud, or begin retaliating against the employee who reported it.
However, some specific whistleblower protection laws do require internal reporting before you’re fully protected from retaliation. The analysis depends entirely on which laws apply to your particular situation and what type of fraud you’ve discovered in your workplace.
We carefully evaluate each client’s unique circumstances to determine the optimal strategy. Sometimes internal reporting makes tactical sense, but more often it’s better to go directly to the government through a properly filed qui tam case under seal. The key is getting expert legal advice before taking any action that could jeopardize your case, your evidence, or your job security.
Can I remain anonymous as a whistleblower?
It depends entirely on the type of whistleblower case you’re filing. SEC whistleblower cases allow you to remain completely anonymous throughout the entire process—even the Securities and Exchange Commission doesn’t know your identity, only your attorney does. This provides maximum protection for securities fraud whistleblowers.
False Claims Act cases work differently. Your identity is kept strictly confidential from the defendant company while the case remains under seal, but the Department of Justice knows who you are from the beginning. Once the seal is eventually lifted, your identity becomes part of the public court record.
However, being publicly identified doesn’t mean you lose legal protection. Federal anti-retaliation laws strictly prohibit employers from punishing whistleblowers, and we aggressively pursue additional damages if companies try to retaliate. Many of our clients find that the substantial financial rewards and comprehensive legal protections more than compensate for any temporary workplace challenges.
What types of fraud can I report as a whistleblower?
You can report virtually any type of fraud committed against federal, state, or local government programs. The most common and lucrative types include healthcare fraud like false Medicare or Medicaid billing, defense contractor fraud involving military contracts, and financial fraud affecting federal agencies or programs.
In New York, healthcare fraud is particularly prevalent throughout the medical community. This includes doctors billing for services never provided, hospitals performing unnecessary procedures to increase reimbursements, pharmaceutical companies paying illegal kickbacks for prescriptions, and medical device manufacturers bribing doctors to use their products. We’ve also seen significant cases involving COVID-19 relief fraud, including false PPP loan applications and sales of counterfeit medical equipment.
Securities fraud reported to the SEC, tax evasion affecting IRS collections, environmental violations harming federal programs, and government grant fraud are also common. The key question isn’t what specific type of fraud you’ve discovered, but whether you have reliable documentary evidence and whether a government agency has been financially harmed. If both conditions are met, you likely have a viable whistleblower case worth pursuing.
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