Whistleblower Attorney in Fort Greene, NY
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False Claims Attorney Fort Greene
You’ve seen something that shouldn’t be happening. Maybe it’s healthcare fraud, government contract violations, or tax evasion. That information isn’t just evidence of wrongdoing—it’s potentially worth millions in whistleblower rewards.
Under federal and New York law, you can receive 15 to 30 percent of whatever the government recovers. We’re talking about real money here. Recent cases have resulted in whistleblower awards of $6 million, $1.1 million, and hundreds of thousands more. The False Claims Act has generated over $35 billion in recoveries since 1987, with $24 billion coming directly from whistleblower cases.
But here’s what most people don’t realize: time matters. Once information becomes public or someone else reports it first, your opportunity for a reward disappears. The longer you wait, the more likely crucial evidence gets destroyed or covered up.
Experienced Whistleblower Law Firm
For 20 years, John Howley represented Fortune 500 companies like Pfizer, Texaco, Citibank, and Sony as a partner at a major corporate law firm. He argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and worked alongside the country’s top legal minds.
Now he uses that same expertise to protect individual whistleblowers in Fort Greene, NY and throughout New York. You get the same caliber of representation that billion-dollar corporations receive, but focused entirely on your case and your rights.
This isn’t a volume practice where your case gets shuffled between junior associates. When you work with us, you work directly with an attorney who understands both sides of these complex cases—and knows exactly how to maximize your outcome.
Qui Tam Attorney Process
First, we evaluate your information during a completely confidential consultation. We need to understand what you witnessed, what evidence exists, and whether your case qualifies for whistleblower protection and rewards.
If you have a viable case, we file your complaint under seal in federal court. This means your identity stays secret while the government investigates. You’re protected from retaliation because nobody knows you’re the whistleblower. The sealed period typically lasts 60 days but often extends much longer as the government builds its case.
During the investigation, the government decides whether to join your case or let you proceed alone. Either way, you’re entitled to a percentage of any recovery. We handle all the legal complexities while you continue working—or find new employment if you’ve already left. You don’t pay attorney fees unless we win, and then our fees come from the recovery, not your reward.
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Retaliation Attorney Protection
New York’s whistleblower laws are among the strongest in the country. You’re protected whether you report fraud involving federal programs, state contracts, or local government funds. The New York False Claims Act covers everything from healthcare fraud to tax evasion, with penalties up to $12,000 per violation plus triple damages.
If your employer retaliates against you—through firing, demotion, harassment, or creating a hostile work environment—you have additional legal remedies. New York law requires full reinstatement, back pay, lost benefits, and compensation for emotional distress. Recent legislative updates have extended these protections to independent contractors and expanded the definition of protected activities.
Fort Greene employees face unique challenges in a borough where many work for large institutions, government contractors, and healthcare systems. These organizations often have sophisticated compliance programs designed to detect and silence whistleblowers before they can report violations. That’s why you need an attorney who understands these tactics and knows how to navigate around them while building the strongest possible case for your protection and reward.
How much money can I receive as a whistleblower in New York?
Your whistleblower reward depends on several factors, but the range is substantial. Under federal law, you can receive 15 to 25 percent of the government’s recovery if they join your case, or 25 to 30 percent if they decline and you proceed alone.
New York’s False Claims Act offers similar percentages—15 to 25 percent of any state recovery. Recent whistleblower awards have reached millions of dollars. One pharmaceutical case resulted in a $3 billion settlement with a significant portion going to the whistleblower. A Bank of America mortgage fraud case led to a $16 billion settlement.
The key factors affecting your reward include how much information you provide, the quality of your evidence, and your contribution to the government’s investigation. We work to document and maximize your contribution throughout the process, ensuring you receive the highest percentage possible under the law.
What if my employer retaliates against me for reporting fraud?
Retaliation is illegal, and New York law provides powerful remedies if it happens. You’re entitled to full reinstatement, back pay, lost benefits, attorney fees, and compensation for emotional distress. Recent changes to New York’s whistleblower law have made these protections even stronger.
Retaliation isn’t always obvious. It can include subtle actions like exclusion from meetings, reduced responsibilities, negative performance reviews, or creating a hostile work environment. We document these patterns from the beginning and build a comprehensive retaliation case alongside your whistleblower claim.
The best protection is filing your case under seal, which keeps your identity secret during the government’s investigation. Most employers never learn who reported them until the case becomes public, often years later. By then, you’re protected by federal and state anti-retaliation laws, and any adverse action against you becomes additional evidence of illegal retaliation.
How long do I have to file a whistleblower case?
Time limits vary, but New York gives you more time than most states. Under the New York False Claims Act, you generally have ten years from the violation or three years from when the government should have discovered it. Federal cases typically have a six-year statute of limitations.
However, waiting is dangerous for other reasons. If someone else reports the same information first, you lose your right to a reward under the “first to file” rule. If the information becomes public through news reports, government investigations, or other disclosures, you may also lose your eligibility.
Evidence disappears over time. Employees leave, documents get destroyed, and memories fade. The companies involved often realize they’re under scrutiny and take steps to cover their tracks. We’ve seen cases where crucial evidence was destroyed just months after the violations occurred, making it impossible to prove the fraud later.
Do I need to report the fraud to my employer first?
New York law generally requires you to give your employer a chance to fix the problem before reporting to government authorities, but there are important exceptions. You can skip internal reporting if the violation creates an immediate danger to public health or safety, or if internal reporting would be futile.
Healthcare fraud, financial fraud, and safety violations often qualify for direct government reporting. If your employer is actively covering up the fraud or you have reason to believe they won’t take corrective action, you can also proceed directly to authorities.
Internal reporting can be dangerous because it alerts the company to your concerns and makes you a target for retaliation. We help you evaluate whether internal reporting is required in your specific situation, and if so, how to document it properly while protecting yourself. Sometimes a carefully worded internal complaint can actually strengthen your eventual whistleblower case.
What types of fraud qualify for whistleblower rewards in New York?
New York’s whistleblower laws cover a broad range of fraud against government programs. Healthcare fraud is the most common—billing Medicare or Medicaid for unnecessary procedures, upcoding diagnoses, or kickback schemes. Defense contractor fraud involves overcharging the government or providing substandard products.
New York uniquely covers tax fraud, which federal law doesn’t address. If a company or individual with over $1 million in income evades more than $350,000 in taxes, you can file a whistleblower case and receive a reward. Recent tax fraud cases have resulted in millions in recoveries.
Other qualifying fraud includes grant fraud, procurement fraud, customs violations, and securities fraud involving government pension funds. The key requirement is that the fraud must cause financial harm to a government entity—federal, state, or local. Even violations of government contracts or regulations can qualify if they result in the government paying for something it didn’t receive or paying more than it should have.
Will my identity be protected during a whistleblower case?
Yes, your identity remains completely confidential during the initial phase of your case. When we file your whistleblower complaint, it’s filed under seal, meaning only you, your attorney, and the government know about it. The defendant company doesn’t learn about the case or your identity.
This sealed period typically lasts at least 60 days but often extends much longer—sometimes years—while the government investigates. During this time, you can continue working normally without fear that your employer knows you’ve reported them. If you’ve already left the company, they have no way to connect you to the investigation.
Even after the case becomes public, strong anti-retaliation laws protect you. Any adverse action your employer takes after learning about your whistleblowing becomes evidence of illegal retaliation, which can result in additional damages and penalties. We monitor your employment situation throughout the process and take immediate action if any retaliation occurs.
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